The issue of a battle is the result of an instant, of a thought. There is the advance, with its various combinations, the battle is joined, the struggle goes on a certain time, the decisive moment presents itself, a spark of genius discloses it, and the smallest body of reserves accomplish victory.

Once you are so unfortunate as to be drawn into a war, no price is too great to pay for an early and victorious peace.

When you are winning a war almost everything that happens can be claimed to be right and wise.

In War: Resolution. In Defeat: Defiance. In Victory: Magnanimity. In Peace: Good Will.

In war as in life, it is often necessary when some cherished scheme has failed, to take up the best alternative open, and if so, it is folly not to work for it with all your might.

Those who can win a war well can rarely make a good peace, and those who could make a good peace would never have won the war.