The hardest thing of all for a soldier is to retreat.

Just to show you how little reliance can be placed even on what are supposed the best accounts of a battle, I mention that there are some circumstances mentioned in General -'s account which did not occur as he relates them. It is impossible to say when each important occurrence took place, or in what order.

A great country cannot wage a little war.

There is no mistake; there has been no mistake; and there shall be no mistake.

Victory is the ability to fight five minutes longer than any other army in the world.

Next to a lost battle, nothing is so sad as a battle that has been won.

The French system of conscription brings together a fair sample of all classes; ours is composed of the scum of the earth - the mere scum of the earth. It is only wonderful that we should be able to make so much out of them afterwards.