“Weapons are ominous tools to be used only when there is no alternative.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War “In ”Behind China’s Threats” (front page, March 7), you note that China’s military options for attacking Taiwan ”remain limited and impractical.’ There are other means to victory, as taught by the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun… Read More
“The same man cannot be well skilled in everything; each has his own special excellence.” Euripides (c.480 BC to 406 BC), from one of his tragedies (Rhesus). Euripides was one of the great Athenian playwrights and poets of ancient Greece, known for the many tragedies he wrote, including Medea and The Bacchae.
“No new weapons can be introduced without changing conditions, and every change in condition will demand a modification in the application ofthe principles of war.” Major General John Frederick Charles ‘Boney’ Fuller, CB, CBE, DSO (1878 to 1966) was a senior British Army officer, military historian, and strategist. Notable as an early theorist of modern… Read More
“The main thing is always to have a plan; if it is not the best plan, it is at least better than no plan at all!” General Sir John Monash (1865 to 1931, Australian Army General during World War I), attributed to a letter written in 1918. References Australian War Museum (2016) 1918: Australians in France… Read More
“Successful generals make plans to fit circumstances, but do not try to create circumstances to fit plans.” General George S. Patton (US Army General)
“Do make it clear that generalship, at least in my case, came not by instinct, unsought, but by understanding, hard study and brain concentration. Had it come easy to me I should not have done it as well.” T.E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia) as quoted in Lawrence of Arabia by B.H.L. Hart. Reference Hale,… Read More
“He who is prepared has his battle half fought…” Miguel de Cervantes (in Don Quixote, 1615) The full quote states “He who is prepared has his battle half fought; nothing is lost by my preparing myself, for I know by experience that I have enemies, visible and invisible, and I know not when, or where, or… Read More
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