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.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Defense is strong but reactive; switch to offense when you have the strength.
- In plain terms
- Defend only when weak; attack when strong.
- What can you take from it?
- Use defense as a temporary state, not a permanent strategy.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When should you stop defending?
- How do you know you are strong enough to attack?
Another view
Sometimes remaining defensive is the best long-term strategy.
More from Karl von Clausewitz
All war presupposes human weakness and seeks to exploit it.
Permalink to quote #51 Surprise becomes effective when we suddenly face the enemy at one point with far more troops than he expected. This type of numerical superiority is quite dist…
Permalink to quote #53 The state of crisis is the real war; the equilibrium is nothing but its reflex.
Permalink to quote #50
Related quotes
'To tread down the sword' is a principle often used in strategy. First, in large-scale strategy, when the enemy first discharges bows and guns and then attacks…
Miyamoto MusashiMiyamoto Musashi quote #51 The war on terror as defined by President Bush is a one-dimensional presentation of reality. We cannot fight terrorism by military means alone. We can use mili…
George SorosGeorge Soros quote #64 Chess is a matter of delicate judgment, knowing when to punch and how to duck.
Bobby FischerBobby Fischer quote #76