“Organizations created to fight the last war better are not going to win the next.” Lieutenant General James Maurice Gavin (1907-1990), …”a top Army administrator, a diplomat and a leading management consultant…” (Fowler, 1990) Sometimes presented as “Generals always fight the last war.” Of course, this does not take account of the fact that sometimes… Read More
“A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is not possible.” Polybius (200 B.C. to 118 B.C.; Greek historian of the Hellenistic period noted for his work, The Histories, which covered the period of 264–146 BC in detail) The Rise of the Roman Empire, circa 125 BC
“Any general who needs to rely on his opponent being an idiot is in sore trouble.” (Gemmell, 2014, p.214). Reference Gemmell, D. (2014) The Hawk Eternal. London: Orbit.
“Their caution was not Montgomery’s, who obviously considered that insistence on 100 per cent certainty was to be preferred to a policy of boldness, which is true in questions of strategy, although certainly not in tactics.” (Rommel, 1953, p.515). Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel (the Desert Fox), World War I junior officer and World War II… Read More
“They did not base their plans on the real possibilities of the situation, but allowed the wish to father the thought.” (Rommel, 1953, p.409). A contemporary version: “To call it a fad would be unfair; at the moment it’s a fashionable policy in search of persuasive evidence that it really works.” (Hawkes, 2013, p.25). Field-Marshal Erwin… Read More
“…weit vom Schuss gibt alte Krieger – far from the battle makes old soldiers.” (Rommel, 1953, p.327). Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel (the Desert Fox), World War I junior officer and World War II General, considered a brilliant military commander; adored by his troops and feared by his enemies. Reference Rommel, E., Liddel Hart, B.H. (ed) &… Read More
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” Sun Tzu, circa 500 B.C.
Boot Camp & Military Fitness Institute 