Francis Bacon Quotes

The maximum number of enemies against which one is obliged to stand one's ground is twice the number of one's own troops

No nation ever had an army large enough to guarantee it against attack in time of peace, or ensure it of victory in time of war.

I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.

If the tanks succeed, then victory follows.

A Constitutional provision limiting the size of our army is a good idea, but we must also include a provision that no enemy may attack us with a larger army

There is no God-given right to victory on the battlefield. You win that through the skill and the devotion, the valor and the ferocity of your troops.

[Every] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war.

Now that you're Secretary of War, what kind of an army do you think we ought to have?

One hundred only, Lord Earl. But judge us not by our number. Rather, watch the numbers of dead we leave behind.

Never completely encircle your enemy. Leave him some escape, for he will fight even more desperately if trapped.

Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy... use the conquered foe to augment one's own strength.

Hostile armies may face each other for years, striving for the victory which is decided in a single day. This being so, to remain in ignorance of the enemy's condition simply because one grudges the outlay of a hundred ounces of silver in honors and emoluments, is the height of inhumanity.

In order to assure an adequate national defense, it is necessary - and sufficient - to be in a position in case of war to conquer the command of the air.

The success of our surprise attack on Pearl Harbor will prove to be the Waterloo of the war to follow. For this reason the Imperial Navy is massing the cream of its strength in ships and planes to assure success.

It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, defend against them; if weaker, be able to avoid them.

Opportunity in war is usually of greater value than bravery... Terrain is often of more value than bravery... Bravery is of more value than numbers.

Air superiority is the ultimate expression of military power.

In Tunisia the Americans had to pay a stiff price for their experience, but it brought rich dividends. Even at that time, the American generals showed themselves to be very advanced in the tactical handling of their forces, although we had to wait until the Patton Army in France to see the most astonishing achievements in mobile warfare.

Every combat is the bloody and destructive measuring of the strength of forces, physical and moral; whoever at the close has the greatest amount of both left is the conqueror.

The active cavalry of Scythia is always followed, in their most distant and rapid incursions, by an adequate number of spare horses, who may be occasionally used, either to redouble the speed, or to satisfy the hunger, of the barbarians. Many are the resources of courage and poverty.

We are a nation at war. This is also a time for hard choices. It's about ensuring that we are able to prevail in the conflicts in which we are now engaged. But it's also about being able to be strong and disciplined in applying our nation's limited resources to defending America.

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.

Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that he will retreat.

Who could not conquer with such troops as these?