Alfred von Schlieffen

"An officer's honor is not in the glory of victory, but in the dignity of defeat."

"The invisible enemy is often the most formidable."

"In matters of state, sentiment must bow to necessity."

"A general who blames circumstance has already made his greatest mistake."

"The relationship between theory and practice is that of map and territory."

"In the darkness before dawn, the officer must trust what he has learned."

"The greatest advantage lies not in size, but in understanding."

"A well-ordered mind in a well-ordered army is the foundation of power."

"In contemplating past victories, prepare for future defeats."

"The soldier's strength comes from discipline; the officer's strength comes from wisdom."

"To fight is human; to fight well requires both intelligence and virtue."

"In every plan, build not just for victory, but for the aftermath."

"The officer who is always certain is precisely the officer to be suspicious of."

"A nation that forgets its military history is a nation unprepared for its future."

"In strategy, the unconventional is often the most conventional of all."

"The greatest conquest is not of territory, but of understanding."

"Fear of failure paralyzes; understanding of risk enlightens."

"In matters of defense, vigilance is not paranoia but prudence."

"A general who has not lost a battle has not learned from experience."

"The noise of war often drowns out the whisper of truth."

"In study of conflict, one discovers the nature of peace."

"An officer's greatest weapon is not his sword, but his foresight."

"Time, that most impartial judge, reveals the wisdom or folly of every decision."

"In the crucible of war, character is both revealed and forged."

"A strategy that cannot be explained is a strategy that cannot be executed."

"The student of warfare must also be a student of human nature."

"In victory, remember your predecessor's defeats; in defeat, your successor's victories."

"The strongest alliance is built on mutual interest, not mutual affection."

"In the art of command, doubt is the enemy of decisiveness."

"A general without imagination is merely a man with authority."