The laurels of victory are at the point of the enemy bayonets. They must be plucked there; they must be carried by a hand-to-hand fight if one really means to conquer.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- True victory requires direct confrontation and personal effort rather than waiting.
- In plain terms
- You must fight hand to hand to win victory not just wait for it.
- What can you take from it?
- Achievement often demands direct and risky engagement.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is compromise better?
- What costs are you willing to pay?
Another view
Direct conflict is not always the most efficient path to success.
More from Ferdinand Foch
One does simply what one can in order to apply what one knows.
Permalink to quote #7 A beaten general is disgraced forever.
Permalink to quote #9 In tactics, action is the governing rule of war.
Permalink to quote #6
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