Destruction

'...the destruction of the enemy's armed forces (...) appear always as the superior and more effectual means to which all others must give way
 (...) the bloody solution of the cricis, the effort for the destruction of the enemy's force, is the first-born son of war'

Clausewitz

Essence of War

'War is an act of violence pushed to its utmost bounds.'

Clausewitz

On war

'If bloody battling is as dreadful spectacle, that sould merely be the reason to appreciate war more and not to allow our swords to grow blunt by and by, through humanitarianism, until someone steps in with a shap sword and cuts our arms off our body'

Clausewitz

Fundamental principles

'There are a small number of fundamental principles of war which may be disregarded only with the greatest danger and the application of which has, on the other hand, been crowned in nearly every case with success.'

Jomini (interpreter of Napoleon).

Leadership

'Practically no one shouted "Long live France!" but everyone called out "Long live De Gaulle!" In moments of great distress or great joy, the crowd has a natural tendency to turn to one man and make him the symbol of their need to admire or to be protected.'

George Bidault  on the historic Liberation promenade down the Champs Elysees in 1944.