A conqueror is always a lover of peace.

— Carl von Clausewitz

Although our intellect always longs for clarity and certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty fascinating.

— Carl von Clausewitz

Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior.

— Carl von Clausewitz

Everything in war is very simple. But the simplest thing is difficult.

— Carl von Clausewitz

If the leader is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles.

— Carl von Clausewitz

If the mind is to emerge unscathed from this relentless struggle with the unforeseen, two qualities are indispensable: first, an intellect that, even in the darkest hour, retains some glimmerings of the inner light which leads to truth; and second, the courage to follow this faint light wherever it may lead.

— Carl von Clausewitz

I shall proceed from the simple to the complex. But in war more than in any other subject we must begin by looking at the nature of the whole for here more than elsewhere the part and the whole must always be thought of together.

— Carl von Clausewitz

Many intelligence reports in war are contradictory; even more are false, and most are uncertain.

— Carl von Clausewitz

Never forget that no military leader has ever become great without audacity.

— Carl von Clausewitz

Our knowledge of circumstances has increased, but our uncertainty, instead of having diminished, has only increased. The reason of this is, that we do not gain all our experience at once, but by degrees; so our determinations continue to be assailed incessantly by fresh experience; and the mind, if we may use the expression, must always be under arms.

— Carl von Clausewitz