Inspirational Quotes by Thomas Merton

“Întreaga artă a războiului este bazată pe înșelătorie.”

“(1) La Ley Moral, (2) el Cielo, (3) la Tierra, (4) El Comandante, (5) El Método y la Disciplina.”

“Lo que de mí depende, puedo hacerlo; lo que depende del enemigo es incierto". | Disposiciones”

“El éxito en la guerra se alcanza cuidando de adaptarse permanentemente al propósito del enemigo.”

“by Capt. E. F. Calthrop, R.F.A. However, this translation is, in the words of Dr. Giles, "excessively bad." He goes further in this criticism: "It is”

“Protegernos contra la derrota está en nuestras manos, pero la oportunidad de derrotar al enemigo proviene siempre del enemigo.”

“All one can say is that this power will be exercised wisely by some, foolishly by others, and that among those who bear arms some will be loyal and others rebellious. [58]”

“The force which confronts the enemy is the normal; that which goes to his flanks the extraordinary. no commander of an army can wrest the advantage from the enemy without extraordinary forces.”

“When half his force advances and half withdraws he is attempting to decoy you. When his troops lean on their weapons, they are famished. When drawers of water drink before carrying it to camp, his troops are suffering from thirst. When the enemy sees an advantage but does not advance to seize it, he is fatigued. When birds gather above his camp sites, they are empty. When at night the enemy's camp is clamorous, he is fearful. They are boisterous to reassure themselves. When his troops are disorderly, the general has no prestige. When his flags and banners move about constantly he is in disarray. If the officers are short-tempered they are exhausted. When the enemy feeds grain to the horses and his men meat and when his troops neither hang up their cooking pots nor return to their shelters, the enemy is desperate. When the troops continually gather in small groups and whisper together the general has lost the confidence of the army. Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that he is in acute distress. If the officers at first treat the men violently and later are fearful of them, the limit of indiscipline has been reached. When the enemy troops are in high spirits, and, although facing you, do not join battle for a long time, nor leave, you must thoroughly investigate the situation.”

“- إن ما يصلح للتطبيق في الحرب، يصلح للتطبيق في الحياة اليومية. - عندما نستعد لدفع قواتنا للتحرك، يجب أن نتظاهر بالتكاسل (وهو ما حدث في حرب أكتوبر ١٩٧٣ على سبيل المثال). - عدم وجود الشعر الأبيض ليس دليلا على القوة، ورؤية الشمس والقمر لا تعني حدة البصر، وسماع الرعد لا يؤكد سلامة الأذن. - القرار الأقل صوابا في وقت الحاجة إلى الحسم، أصوب من القرار النموذجي بعد ضياع الفرصة. - التظاهر بالاضطراب يتطلب قدرا عاليا من النظام.”

“Now in order to kill the enemy, our men must be roused to anger; that there may be advantage from defeating the enemy, they must have their rewards.”

“Los buenos guerreros hacen que los adversarios vengan a ellos y de ningún modo se dejan atraer fuera de su fortaleza.”

“In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power. It is sufficient to estimate the enemy situation correctly and to concentrate your strength to capture him. There is no more to it than this. He who lacks foresight and underestimates his enemy will surely be captured by him.”

“وكما قلنا ونعيده ثانيا لأهميته.. إذا عرفت عدوَّك وعرفت نفسك فليس هناك ما يدعو إلى أن تخاف نتيجة مائة معركة، وإذا عرفت نفسك ولم تعرف عدوّك فإنك تقاسي من هزيمة مقابل كل انتصار، وإذا لم تعرف نفسك ولم تعرف عدوَّك فإنك أحمق وسوف تواجه الهزيمة في كل معركة.”

“attacks a powerful state, his generalship shows itself in”

“If troops are punished before their loyalty is secured they will be disobedient. If not obedient, it is difficult to employ them. If troops are loyal, but punishments are not enforced, you cannot employ them. Thus, command them with civility and imbue them uniformly with martial ardor and it may be said that victory is certain. If orders which are consistently effective are used in instructing the troops, they will be obedient. If orders which are not consistently effective are used in instructing them, they will be disobedient. When orders are consistently trustworthy and observed, the relationship of a commander with his troops is satisfactory.”

“Si utilizas al enemigo para derrotar al enemigo, serás poderoso en cualquier lugar a donde vayas.”

“war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.”

“وفي الميدان كن" سريعاً كالريح. صامتاً كالغابة. ضارياً كالنار. وثابتاً كالجبل".”

“Ground may be classified according to its nature as accessible, entrapping, indecisive, constricted, precipitous, and distant. Ground which both we and the enemy can traverse with equal ease is called accessible. In such ground, he who first takes high sunny positions convenient to his supply routes can fight advantageously. Ground easy to get out of but difficult to return to is entrapping. The nature of this ground is such that if the enemy is unprepared and you sally out you may defeat him. If the enemy is prepared and you go out and engage, but do not win, it is difficult to return. This is unprofitable. Ground equally disadvantageous for both the enemy and ourselves to enter is indecisive. The nature of this ground is such that although the enemy holds out a bait I do not go forth but entice him by marching off. When I have drawn out half his force, I can strike him advantageously. If I first occupy constricted ground I must block the passes and await the enemy. If the enemy first occupies such ground and blocks the defiles I should not follow him; if he does not block them completely I may do so. In precipitous ground I must take position on the sunny heights and await the enemy. If he first occupies such ground I lure him by marching off; I do not follow him. When at a distance from an enemy of equal strength it is difficult to provoke battle and unprofitable to engage him in his chosen position. These are the principles relating to six different types of ground. It is the highest responsibility of the general to inquire into them with the utmost care.”