The art of war consists in bringing to bear with an inferior army a superiority of force at the point at which one attacks or is attacked.

A military maxim, which ought never to be neglected, is to assemble your cantonments at the point which is most remote and best sheltered from the enemy, especially when he makes his appearance unexpectedly. You will then have time to unite the whole army before he can attack you.

Nothing is more rash or more opposed to the principles of war than a flank march in presence of an army in position, especially when that army occupies heights at the foot of which you must defile.

Nothing is more important in war than unity in command. When, therefore, you are carrying on hostilities against a single power only, you should have but one army acting on one line and led by one commander.

It is an approved maxim in war, never to do what the enemy wishes you to do, for this reason alone, that he desires it.

A plan of campaign should anticipate everything which the enemy can do, and contain within itself the means of thwarting him.