Winston Churchill Quotes

Strategy is the most important department of the art of war, and strategical skill is the highest and rarest function of military genius.

War is a serious game in which a man risks his reputation, his troops, and his country. A sensible man will search himself to know whether or not he is fitted for the trade.

A prince must not have any other object nor any other thought… but war, its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only art befitting one who commands.

Strategy was first used in Athens (508 BC) to describe the art of leadership used by the ten generals on the war council. Some argue for the more creative, human side, while others argue for the more analytic side of strategy.

If the art of war were nothing but the art of avoiding risks, glory would become the prey of mediocre minds.... I have made all the calculations; fate will do the rest.

I have found in my experience of war, that plans are useless, but planning is invaluable.

The first, the supreme, the most far-reaching act of judgment that the statesman and commander have to make is to establish ... the kind of war on which they are embarking.

The real heart of strategy is the strategist.

No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.

No battle was ever won according to plan, but no battle was ever won without one.

When in doubt, mumble; when in trouble, delegate; when in charge, ponder.

Strategy requires thought, tactics require observation.

The whole art of war consists of guessing at what is on the other side of the hill.

It is easy to say that something should be done. However to say what, when and how is more difficult.

And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.

Do you think it’s wise, darling? You know you’ve got to rule this afternoon.

A leader who does not hesitate before he sends his nation into battle is not fit to be a leader.

The object of a general is not to fight, but to conquer: he fights enough who obtains the victory.

Direction and all is not my cup of tea. It's not an easy job.

Read over and over again the campaigns of Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, Gustavus, Turenne, Eugene and Frederic. ... This is the only way to become a great general and master the secrets of the art of war.

Everything in strategy is very simple, but that does not mean everything is very easy.

Act after having made assessments. The one who first knows the measure of far and near wins - this is the rule of armed struggle.

I have much to teach you. Come and learn the art of war from the one who invented it. (Takeshi)

I think being able to have follow-through, I think a lot of people who are in charge, that is the one quality that you can't forsake. You can get opinions, but you can't have too many cooks in the kitchen when you're envisioning something.

If we do not learn to regard a war, and the separate campaigns of which it is composed, as a chain of linked engagements each leading to the next, but instead succumb to the idea that the capture of certain geographical points or the seizure of undefended provinces are of value in themselves, we are liable to regard them as windfall profits.