John le Carre Quotes

Never destroy without thought your enemy's pretences; they are usually your best weapon against him.

Without a doubt, psychological warfare has proven its right to a place of dignity in our military arsenal.

Should one ask: 'how do I cope with a well-ordered enemy host about to attack me?' I reply: seize something he cherishes and he will conform to your desires.

If we had a better understanding of the ways we think about enemies, we might be able to think of more rational ways of settling conflict.

In war, mere appearances have had all the effect of realities; and that a person, under a firm persuasion that he can command resources, virtually has them; that very prospect inspiring him with hope and boldness in his exertions.

As almost anyone with war experience knows, you're never supposed to show the enemy what you won't do to win.

According to U.S. strategy, if you never see the other, his destruction will be more acceptableso that when Iraqi soldiers surrendered, sooner than expected, it was as if they emerged from a dream, a flash-back, a lost epoch--an epoch when the enemy still had a body and was still "like us.

The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength.

Till the enemy's weakness is known , he should be kept on friendly terms.

Subjugating the enemy's army without fighting is the true pinnacle of excellence.

You control the terms of the conflict. Make them play your game. Don't try to play theirs.

Defeat Them in Detail: The Divide and Conquer Strategy. Look at the parts and determine how to control the individual parts, create dissension and leverage it.

You gain power by pretending to be weak.

If it's possible to have an enemy without making it personal or moral, then that's what I'm trying to do.

It is better to learn war early from friends, than late from enemies.

You talk to your enemies, not just your friends.

It is much safer to reconcile an enemy than to conquer him; victory may deprive him of his poison, but reconciliation of his will.

There is a tendency in any conflict, especially in a democracy, to fight the enemy you can, not the enemy you should.

When he pretends to flee, do not pursue.

There has always been excuses for wars, but NONE of them have been good or valid.

Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.

The best way to weaken one's enemy was to get him to believe that you were on his side.

Propaganda analysis can contribute to world peace by exposing those techniques that lead to armed conflict by creating misapprehension of reality.

It took me a long time to understand that God is not the enemy of my enemies. God is not even the enemy of God's enemies.