The Theory Of The Indirect

In The Case Of A State That Is Seeking Not Conquest But The Maintenance Of Its Security, The Aim Is Fulfilled If The Threat Is Removed - If The Enemy Is Led To Abandon His Purpose.

If You Find Your Opponent In A Strong Position Costly To Force, You Should Leave Him A Line Of Retreat As The Quickest Way Of Loosening His Resistance. It Should, Equally, Be A Principle Of Policy, Especially In War, To Provide Your Opponent With A Ladder By Which He Can Climb Down.

Inflict The Least Possible Permanent Injury, For The Enemy Of To-day Is The Customer Of The Morrow And The Ally Of The Future

The Most Dangerous Error Is Failure To Recognize Our Own Tendency To Error.

Direct Experience Is Inherently Too Limited To Form An Adequate Foundation Either For Theory Or For Application. At The Best It Produces An Atmosphere That Is Of Value In Drying And Hardening The Structure Of Thought. The Greater Value Of Indirect Experience Lies In Its Greater Variety And Extent. History Is Universal Experience, The Experience Not Of Another, But Of Many Others Under Manifold Conditions.