The general unreliability of all information presents a special problem in war: all action takes place, so to speak, in the twilight, which, like fog or moonlight, often tends to make things seem grotesque and larger than they really are. Whatever is hidden from full view in this feeble light has to be guessed at by talent, or simply left to chance. So once again for the lack of objective knowledge, one has to trust to talent or to luck.

It is even better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past.

Many intelligence reports in war are contradictory; even more are false, and most are uncertain.

If we consider the actual basis of this information [i.e., intelligence], how unreliable and transient it is, we soon realize that war is a flimsy structure that can easily collapse and bury us in its ruins. ... Many intelligence reports in war are contradictory; even more are false, and most are uncertain. This is true of all intelligence but even more so in the heat of battle, where such reports tend to contradict and cancel each other out. In short, most intelligence is false, and the effect of fear is to multiply lies and inaccuracies.

Self-reliance is the best defence against the pressures of the moment.

In the whole range of human activities, war most closely resembles a game of cards.

...as man under pressure tends to give in to physical and intellectual weakness, only great strength of will can lead to the objective.