Helmuth von Moltke

"In matters of state, clarity of purpose must precede clarity of action."

"Patience in analysis leads to swift action in execution."

"The weight of command teaches a man what truly matters in life."

"Wars are won not by the largest armies, but by the sharpest minds."

"A general who fears change is already defeated."

"Discipline is the skeleton upon which all military virtue hangs."

"The study of history is not the study of the past, but preparation for the future."

"One must know not only the enemy, but oneself, and the ground upon which one stands."

"To assume is the enemy of the strategist."

"A commander's authority rests upon the respect he has earned through wisdom and fairness."

"The preservation of peace requires the constant preparation for war."

"In strategy, the simplest plans are often the most effective when executed with precision."

"The future belongs to those who can envision it and work toward it with purpose."

"A mind devoted to continuous improvement is a mind that never grows old."

"The cost of a single battle is often less than the cost of poor planning."

"Tradition must be honored, yet never allowed to chain progress."

"The true measure of a leader is how he treats those beneath him."

"One should fear not the enemy without, but laziness within."

"In the council of war, the wisest voice is often the quietest."

"A nation's strength is ultimately the strength of its people."

"The pursuit of knowledge is the pursuit of power that cannot be taken away."

"To understand the nature of conflict is to understand the nature of man."

"Great deeds are often accomplished by those who refuse to accept the impossible."

"The officer who lives for his duty finds life worth living."

"Strategy without tactics is the slow route to defeat; tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat."

"A commander must possess both the courage of the lion and the cunning of the fox."

"The written word outlasts the spoken word, as the spoken word outlasts the unspoken thought."

"In leadership, consistency of principle matters more than popularity of opinion."

"The health of an organization reflects the health of its leader."

"One must be willing to question everything except one's fundamental duty."