The Power To Command Has Never Meant

No Study Is Possible On The Battlefield.

My Center Is Giving Way, My Right Is In Retreat; Situation Excellent. I Shall Attack.

Far From Being A Sum Of Distinct And Partial Results, Victory Is The Consequence Of Efforts, Some Of Which Are Victorious While Others Appear To Be Fruitless, Which Nevertheless All Aim At A Common Goal, All Drive At A Common Result: Namely, At A Decision, A Conclusion Which Alone Can Provide Victory.

In War There Are None But Particular Cases; Everything Has There An Individual Nature; Nothing Ever Repeats Itself. In The First Place, The Data Of A Military Problem Are But Seldom Certain; They Are Never Final . Everything Is In A Constant State Of Change And Reshaping.

All The Same, The Fundamental Truths Which Govern That Art Are Still Unchangeable; Just As The Principles Of Mechanics Must Always Govern Architecture, Whether The Building Be Made Of Wood, Stone, Iron Or Concrete; Just As The Principles Of Harmony Govern Music Of Whatever Kind. It Is Still Necessary, Then, To Establish The Principles Of War.