Carl von Clausewitz Mean Quotations

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.

War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means.

War is regarded as nothing but the continuation of state policy with other means.

Der Krieg ist nichts als eine Fortsetzung des politischen Verkehrs mit Einmischung anderer Mittel. War is merely the continuation of policy with the admixture of other means.

What do we mean by the defeat of the enemy? Simply the destruction of his forces, whether by death, injury, or any other means-either completely or enough to make him stop fighting. . . . The complete or partial destruction of the enemy must be regarded as the sole object of all engagements. . . . Direct annihilation of the enemy's forces must always be the dominant consideration.

Everything in strategy is very simple, but that does not mean everything is very easy.

War is politics by other means.

Whoever does great things with small means has successfully reached the goal.

War is nothing but a continuation of politics with the admixture of other means.

War is only caused through the political intercourse of governments and nations - war is nothing but a continuation of political intercourse with an admixture of other means.

By 'intelligence' we mean every sort of information about the enemy and his country - the basis, in short, of our own plans and operations.