Charles Caleb Colton Quotes

The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.

Not since Crassus and the campaign against the Parthaginians was there such an incompetent a general as Shafter….

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

Napoleon wanted his generals to be lucky. I don't think he would have worked with me.

Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver, the less he demands in slaughter.

The art of making war with success being the fruit of courage combined with prudence, intelligence and experience, a companion in arms of the great Frederick, who was with him during twenty-two years, seemed to us all a man most fit to assist Monsieur Washington.

I am going to Spain to fight an army without a general, and thence to the East to fight a general without an army.

No leader, however great, can long continue unless he wins battles. The battle decides all.

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.

He carefully studies the position that he intends to conquer.

In war, groping tactics, half-way measures, lose everything.

We should ask our commanders..." Elayne trailed off. "If there are any we trust not to be under Compulsion." "There's only one," Mat said grimly, meeting her eyes. "And he's telling you we are finished if we continue as we have. The earlier plan was a good enough one, but after what we lost today...Elayne, we're dead unless we choose one place to stand, gather together, and fight." One last toss of the dice.

Success in past U.S. conflicts has not been strictly the result of military leadership but rather the judgment of the president in choosing generals and setting broad strategy.

Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

In strife who inquires whether stratagem or courage was used?

I have always had a keen interest in defence and military history and read more on this subject than anything else.

I can make more generals, but horses cost money.

The Creator has not thought proper to mark those in the forehead who are of stuff to make good generals. We are first, therefore, to seek them blindfold, and then let them learn the trade at the expense of great losses.

The Xhosa have been beaten just enough to increase their caution, to improve their knowledge of war, and to teach them safer and more efficacious ways of attacking us.

One mediocre general is better than two good ones.

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

The commander ought to lead every important movement.

Only those generals who gain successes can set up dictators. What I now ask of you is military success, and I will risk the dictatorship.

He is a butcher, and is not fit to be at the head of an army.