The Heart Of France Lies Between Brussels

It Is Paltry Philosophy If In The Old-fashioned Way One Lays Down Rules And Principles In Total Disregard Of Moral Values . As Soon As These Appear One Regards Them As Exceptions, Which Gives Them A Certain Scientific Status, And Thus Makes Them Into Rules. Or Again One May Appeal To Genius , Which Is Above All Rules; Which Amounts To Admitting That Rules Are Not Only Made For Idiots , But Are Idiotic In Themselves.

Lastly, The Great Uncertainty Of All Data In War Is A Peculiar Difficulty, Because All Action Must, To A Certain Extent, Be Planned In A Mere Twilight, Which In Addition Not Unfrequently — Like The Effect Of A Fog Or Moonshine — Gives To Things Exaggerated Dimensions And An Unnatural Appearance.

There Is Nothing More Common Than To Find Considerations Of Supply Affecting The Strategic Lines Of A Campaign And A War.

The Majority Of People Are Timid By Nature, And That Is Why They Constantly Exaggerate Danger. All Influences On The Military Leader, Therefore, Combine To Give Him A False Impression Of His Opponent's Strength, And From This Arises A New Source Of Indecision.

In War, The Young Soldier Is Very Apt To Regard Unusual Fatigues As The Consquence Of Faults, Mistakes, And Embarrassment In The Conduct Of The Whole, And To Become Distressed And Depondent As A Consequence. This Would Not Happen If He Had Been Prepared For This Beforehand By Exercises In Peace.