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Carl von
Clausewitz |
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Quotes and Teachings |
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Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831)
was a Prussian soldier, military
historian and military theorist
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"Never forget that no military
leader has ever become great
without audacity. If the leader
is filled with high ambition and
if he pursues his aims with
audacity and strength of
will, he will reach them in
spite of all obstacles... As man
under pressure tends to give in
to physical and intellectual
weakness, only great strength of
will can lead to the objective."
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Great things alone can make a great
mind, and petty things will make a petty mind unless a man rejects
them as completely alien.
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Wisdom
Outstanding Thinker |
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There are cases in which
the greatest daring is the greatest
wisdom.
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Courage |
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Although our intellect always longs for clarity and
certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty
fascinating. |
Carl von
Clausewitz |
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Principles of War
War is nothing but
a continuation of politics with the admixture of
other means.
Everything in war is very simple, but the simplest
thing is difficult.
No one starts a
war – or rather, no one in his sense ought to do
so – without first being clear in his mind what
he intends to achieve by the war and how he
intends to conduct it.
To achieve victory
we must mass our forces at the hub of all power
and movement. The enemy’s "center of gravity”.
The conqueror is
always a lover of peace; he would prefer to take
over our country unopposed. |
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We can teach ourselves to see things
the way they are. Only with
vision can we begin to see things the way they can be. |
Carl von
Clausewitz |
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We repeat again: strength of character does not consist
solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining
one’s balance in spite of them. Even with the violence
of emotion, judgment and principle must still function
like a ship’s compass, which records the slightest
variations however rough the sea.
If the mind is to
emerge unscathed from this relentless struggle
with the unforeseen, two qualities are
indispensable: first, an intellect that, even in
the darkest hour, retains some glimmerings of
the inner light which leads to truth; and
second, the courage to follow this faint light
wherever it may lead.
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It is even better to
act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time
of action is past. |
Carl von
Clausewitz |
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Sometimes
we think we're a little too gifted to show up,
you know. But none of us truly is... By avoiding
risk we really risk what's most important in
life − reaching toward growth, our potential,
and a true contribution to a common good.
We need to give
each other the space to grow, to be ourselves,
to exercise our diversity. We need to give each
other space so that we may both give and receive
such beautiful things as ideas, openness,
dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.
Of all the passions that
inspire a man in a battle, none, we have to
admit, is so powerful and so constant as the
longing for honor and renown. |
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If the
leader is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims
with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of
all obstacles. |
Carl von
Clausewitz |
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