Alfred von Schlieffen

"The true art of command lies in making subordinates understand not what to do, but why they must do it."

"Flexibility in thought often defeats rigidity in armor."

"A commander who learns from his enemies is wiser than one who merely defeats them."

"The concept of an unbreakable line has never survived contact with a determined and clever adversary."

"In strategy, as in life, the path of least resistance often leads to the greatest destination."

"The discipline of the mind must precede the discipline of the body in any military force."

"An army is only as strong as the coordination between its various parts."

"To win without understanding why you won is to set the stage for future losses."

"The price of peace is eternal vigilance against those who would disturb it."

"A strategist must think like a chess player several moves ahead of his opponent."

"The greatest military innovations often come from necessity, not from theoretical speculation."

"One cannot defeat an enemy one does not understand, however superior one's weapons may be."

"The true test of a commander's skill is not the battles he wins, but how well he prepares for those he cannot avoid."

"In matters of war, overconfidence is a more dangerous enemy than any foreign power."

"A retreat to a stronger position is sometimes the boldest move a commander can make."

"The logistics of modern war are so complex that they define strategy as much as they serve it."

"Nations that ignore the lessons of history do so at their ultimate peril and cost."

"The element of surprise grows weaker the more one understands the opponent's character and thinking."

"In strategy, the conventional wisdom is often correct because it reflects hard-won truths of history."

"A commander must balance the demands of the present moment with the requirements of future scenarios."

"The soldier's courage means nothing if his leadership cannot translate it into strategic effect."

"An understanding of human nature is as valuable to a general as a detailed map of the terrain."

"The best defense against an unknown threat is a thorough understanding of all possible threats."

"In war, the initiative often belongs to whoever better understands the constraints of geography."

"A nation that prepares for yesterday's war will be defeated by today's reality."

"The true measure of a leader is not how he treats those who serve him, but how he remembers them afterward."

"Strategy divorced from reality is mere fantasy, however elegantly conceived."

"The concentration of military force requires the dispersion of political will to support it."

"An enemy's strength often lies in aspects of his character that cannot be captured by statistics."

"The complexity of modern war demands leaders who can think like both artists and scientists."