War Is Not Merely A Political Act

The Political Object Is The Goal, War Is The Means Of Reaching It, And The Means Can Never Be Considered In Isolation Form Their Purposes.

Any Complex Activity, If It Is To Be Carried On With Any Degree Of Virtuosity, Calls For Appropriate Gifts Of Intellect And Temperament. If They Are Outstanding And Reveal Themselves In Exceptional Achievements, Their Possessor Is Called A 'genius'.

Battles Decide Everything.

Where Absolute Superiority Is Not Attainable, You Must Produce A Relative One At The Decisive Point By Making Skillful Use Ofwhat You Have.

The Invention Of Gunpowder And The Constant Improvement Of Firearms Are Enough In Themselves To Show That The Advance Of Civilization Has Done Nothing Practical To Alter Or Deflect The Impulse To Destroy The Enemy, Which Is Central To The Very Idea Of War.