War is the province of chance. In no sphere of human activity is such a margin to be left for this intruder. It increases the uncertainty of every circumstance, and deranges the course of events.
Carl Von ClausewitzRead
Kind-hearted people might of course think there was some ingenious way to disarm or defeat an enemy without too much bloodshed, and might imagine this is the true goal of the art of war. Pleasant as it sounds; it is a fallacy that must be exposed: War is such a dangerous business that the mistakes which come from kindness are the very worst.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Kindness can lead to disastrous consequences in war, revealing that compassion may be detrimental in violent conflicts.
In this quote, Carl von Clausewitz argues that while kind-hearted individuals may hope for a peaceful resolution or a way to avoid bloodshed in warfare, this notion is ultimately misguided. The complexity and danger inherent in war mean that errors stemming from kindness can lead to catastrophic outcomes. Clausewitz emphasizes the importance of recognizing the harsh realities of conflict and the limitations of goodwill in such a brutal arena.
Themes
WarKindnessConflictMistakesReality
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on the ethics of war during a debate on military strategy.
More from Carl Von Clausewitz
All quotes →The object of defense is preservation; and since it is easier to hold ground than to take it, defense is easier than attack. But defense has a passive purpose: preservation; and attack a positive one: conquest.... If defense is the stronger form of war, yet has a negative object, it follows that it should be used only so long as weakness compels, and be abandoned as soon as we are strong enough to pursue a positive object.
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Although our intellect always longs for clarity and certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty fascinating.
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But the main point is that soldiers, after fighting for some time, are apt to be like burned-out cinders. They have shot off their ammunition, their numbers have been diminished, their strength and their morale are drained, and possibly their courage has vanished as well. As an organic whole, quite apart from their loss in numbers, they are far from being what they were before the action; and thus the amount of reserves spent is an accurate measure on the loss of morale.
Carl Von ClausewitzRead
The more a general is accustomed to place heavy demands on his soldiers, the more he can depend on their response.
Carl Von ClausewitzRead
If the enemy is to be coerced, you must put him in a situation that is even more unpleasant than the sacrifice you call on him to make. The hardships of the situation must not be merely transient - at least not in appearance. Otherwise, the enemy would not give in, but would wait for things to improve.
Carl Von ClausewitzRead
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