“At the beginning of a campaign it is important to consider whether or not to move forward; but when one has taken the offensive it is necessary to maintain it to the last extremity. However skilfully effected a retreat may be, it always lessens the morale of an army, since in losing the chances of success, they are remitted to the enemy. A retreat, moreover, costs much more in men and materials than the bloodiest engagements, with this difference, also, that in a battle the enemy loses practically as much as you do; while in a retreat you lose and he does not.”
Napoleon Bonaparte
-
Working on it...
-
Working on it...
-
Working on it...
-
Working on it...
Similar quotes
“Retreat is brave when you steal a great prize from your enemy's hands.”
David Bowles
The Deepest Green
“Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.”
Sun Tzu
The Art of War
“From now on the enemy is more clever than you. From now on the enemy is stronger than you. From now on you are always about to lose.”
Orson Scott Card
Ender’s Game
“In the Soviet army it takes more courage to retreat than advance.”
Joseph Stalin
“I am like a snake who has already bitten. I retreat from a direct battle while knowing the slow effect of the poison.”
Anais Nin
Incest: From "A Journal of Love": The Unexpurgated Diary of Anaïs Nin, 1932-1934