It is in times of difficulty that great nations like great men display the whole energy of their character and become an object of admiration to posterity.

An army marches on its stomach.

Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.

The leader's role is to define reality, then give hope

There is only one favorable moment in war; talent consists in knowing how to seize it.

When soldiers have been baptized in the fire of a battle-field, they have all one rank in my eyes.

The affairs of war, like the destiny of battles, as well as empires, hang upon a spiders thread.