On War
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About This Book
Collected here in this 4-in-1 omnibus are the most important books ever written on the art of 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu; 'On War' by Carl von Clausewitz; 'The Art of War' by Niccolo Machiavelli, and 'The Art of War' by Baron De Jomini. These four books will give you as complete a view on the art of war as you can attain. Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' is the most important book ever written about warfare and conflict. Lionel Giles' translation is the definitive edition and his commentary is indispensable. 'The Art of War' can be used and adapted in every facet of your life. This book explains wh...
Chapters (250)
- On War
- TRANSLATED BY COLONEL J.J. GRAHAM
- 1874 was 1st edition of this translation. 1909 was the London reprinting. NEW AND REVISED EDITION WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY COLONEL F.N. MAUDE C.B. (LATE R.E.) EIGHTH IMPRESSION IN THREE VOLUMES
- INTRODUCTION
- PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
- NOTICE
- THE INTRODUCTION OF THE AUTHOR
- BRIEF MEMOIR OF GENERAL CLAUSEWITZ (BY TRANSLATOR)
- BOOK I. ON THE NATURE OF WAR
- CHAPTER I. What is War?
- 1. INTRODUCTION.
- 2. DEFINITION.
- 3. UTMOST USE OF FORCE.
- 4. THE AIM IS TO DISARM THE ENEMY.
- 5. UTMOST EXERTION OF POWERS.
- 6. MODIFICATION IN THE REALITY.
- 7. WAR IS NEVER AN ISOLATED ACT.
- 8. WAR DOES NOT CONSIST OF A SINGLE INSTANTANEOUS BLOW.
- 9. THE RESULT IN WAR IS NEVER ABSOLUTE.
- 10. THE PROBABILITIES OF REAL LIFE TAKE THE PLACE OF THE CONCEPTIONS OF THE EXTREME AND THE ABSOLUTE.
- 11. THE POLITICAL OBJECT NOW REAPPEARS.
- 12. A SUSPENSION IN THE ACTION OF WAR UNEXPLAINED BY ANYTHING SAID AS YET.
- 13. THERE IS ONLY ONE CAUSE WHICH CAN SUSPEND THE ACTION, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE ONLY POSSIBLE ON ONE SIDE IN ANY CASE.
- 14. THUS A CONTINUANCE OF ACTION WILL ENSUE WHICH WILL ADVANCE TOWARDS A CLIMAX.
- 15. HERE, THEREFORE, THE PRINCIPLE OF POLARITY IS BROUGHT INTO REQUISITION.
- 16. ATTACK AND DEFENCE ARE THINGS DIFFERING IN KIND AND OF UNEQUAL FORCE. POLARITY IS, THEREFORE, NOT APPLICABLE TO THEM.
- 17. THE EFFECT OF POLARITY IS OFTEN DESTROYED BY THE SUPERIORITY OF THE DEFENCE OVER THE ATTACK, AND THUS THE SUSPENSION OF ACTION IN WAR IS EXPLAINED.
- 18 A SECOND GROUND CONSISTS IN THE IMPERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
- 19. FREQUENT PERIODS OF INACTION IN WAR REMOVE IT FURTHER FROM THE ABSOLUTE, AND MAKE IT STILL MORE A CALCULATION OF PROBABILITIES.
- 20. THEREFORE, THE ELEMENT OF CHANCE ONLY IS WANTING TO MAKE OF WAR A GAME, AND IN THAT ELEMENT IT IS LEAST OF ALL DEFICIENT.
- 21. WAR IS A GAME BOTH OBJECTIVELY AND SUBJECTIVELY.
- 22. HOW THIS ACCORDS BEST WITH THE HUMAN MIND IN GENERAL.
- 23. WAR IS ALWAYS A SERIOUS MEANS FOR A SERIOUS OBJECT. ITS MORE PARTICULAR DEFINITION.
- 24. WAR IS A MERE CONTINUATION OF POLICY BY OTHER MEANS.
- 25. DIVERSITY IN THE NATURE OF WARS.
- 26. THEY MAY ALL BE REGARDED AS POLITICAL ACTS.
- 27. INFLUENCE OF THIS VIEW ON THE RIGHT UNDERSTANDING OF MILITARY HISTORY, AND ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF THEORY.
- 28. RESULT FOR THEORY.
- CHAPTER II. Ends and Means in War
- CHAPTER III. The Genius for War
- CHAPTER IV. Of Danger in War
- CHAPTER V. Of Bodily Exertion in War
- CHAPTER VI. Information in War
- CHAPTER VII. Friction in War
- CHAPTER VIII. Concluding Remarks, Book I
- BOOK II. ON THE THEORY OF WAR
- CHAPTER I. Branches of the Art of War
- CHAPTER II. On the Theory of War
- 1. THE FIRST CONCEPTION OF THE “ART OF WAR” WAS MERELY THE PREPARATION OF THE ARMED FORCES.
- 2. TRUE WAR FIRST APPEARS IN THE ART OF SIEGES.
- 3. THEN TACTICS TRIED TO FIND ITS WAY IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
- 4. THE REAL CONDUCT OF WAR ONLY MADE ITS APPEARANCE INCIDENTALLY AND INCOGNITO.
- 5. REFLECTIONS ON MILITARY EVENTS BROUGHT ABOUT THE WANT OF A THEORY.
- 6. ENDEAVOURS TO ESTABLISH A POSITIVE THEORY.
- 7. LIMITATION TO MATERIAL OBJECTS.
- 8. SUPERIORITY OF NUMBERS.
- 9. VICTUALLING OF TROOPS.
- 10. BASE.
- 11. INTERIOR LINES.
- 12. ALL THESE ATTEMPTS ARE OPEN TO OBJECTION.
- 13. AS A RULE THEY EXCLUDE GENIUS.
- 14. THE DIFFICULTY OF THEORY AS SOON AS MORAL QUANTITIES COME INTO CONSIDERATION.
- 15. THE MORAL QUANTITIES MUST NOT BE EXCLUDED IN WAR.
- 16. PRINCIPAL DIFFICULTY OF A THEORY FOR THE CONDUCT OF WAR.
- 17. FIRST SPECIALITY.—MORAL FORCES AND THEIR EFFECTS. (HOSTILE FEELING.)
- 18. THE IMPRESSIONS OF DANGER. (COURAGE.)
- 19. EXTENT OF THE INFLUENCE OF DANGER.
- 20. OTHER POWERS OF FEELING.
- 21. PECULIARITY OF MIND.
- 22. FROM THE DIVERSITY IN MENTAL INDIVIDUALITIES ARISES THE DIVERSITY OF WAYS LEADING TO THE END.
- 23. SECOND PECULIARITY.—LIVING REACTION.
- 24. THIRD PECULIARITY.—UNCERTAINTY OF ALL DATA.
- 25. POSITIVE THEORY IS IMPOSSIBLE.
- 26. MEANS LEFT BY WHICH A THEORY IS POSSIBLE (THE DIFFICULTIES ARE NOT EVERYWHERE EQUALLY GREAT).
- 27. THEORY MUST BE OF THE NATURE OF OBSERVATIONS NOT OF DOCTRINE.
- 28. BY THIS POINT OF VIEW THEORY BECOMES POSSIBLE, AND CEASES TO BE IN CONTRADICTION TO PRACTICE.
- 29. THEORY THEREFORE CONSIDERS THE NATURE OF ENDS AND MEANS—ENDS AND MEANS IN TACTICS.
- 30. CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ALWAYS ATTEND THE APPLICATION OF THE MEANS.
- 31. LOCALITY.
- 32. TIME OF DAY.
- 33. WEATHER.
- 34. END AND MEANS IN STRATEGY.
- 35. CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ATTEND THE APPLICATION OF THE MEANS OF STRATEGY.
- 36. THESE FORM NEW MEANS.
- 37. STRATEGY DEDUCES ONLY FROM EXPERIENCE THE ENDS AND MEANS TO BE EXAMINED.
- 38. HOW FAR THE ANALYSIS OF THE MEANS SHOULD BE CARRIED.
- 39. GREAT SIMPLIFICATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED.
- 40. THIS EXPLAINS THE RAPID GROWTH OF GREAT GENERALS, AND WHY A GENERAL IS NOT A MAN OF LEARNING.
- 41. FORMER CONTRADICTIONS.
- 42. ON THIS ACCOUNT ALL USE OF KNOWLEDGE WAS DENIED, AND EVERYTHING ASCRIBED TO NATURAL TALENTS.
- 43. THE KNOWLEDGE MUST BE MADE SUITABLE TO THE POSITION.
- 44. THE KNOWLEDGE IN WAR IS VERY SIMPLE, BUT NOT, AT THE SAME TIME, VERY EASY.
- 45. OF THE NATURE OF THIS KNOWLEDGE.
- 46. SCIENCE MUST BECOME ART.
- CHAPTER III. Art or Science of War
- 1.—USAGE STILL UNSETTLED (POWER AND KNOWLEDGE. SCIENCE WHEN MERE KNOWING; ART, WHEN DOING, IS THE OBJECT.)
- 2. DIFFICULTY OF SEPARATING PERCEPTION FROM JUDGMENT. (ART OF WAR.)
- 3. WAR IS PART OF THE INTERCOURSE OF THE HUMAN RACE.
- 4. DIFFERENCE.
- CHAPTER IV. Methodicism
- CHAPTER V. Criticism
- CHAPTER VI. On Examples
- BOOK III. OF STRATEGY IN GENERAL
- CHAPTER I. Strategy
- OBSERVATION.
- 1. POSSIBLE COMBATS ARE ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR RESULTS TO BE LOOKED UPON AS REAL ONES.
- 2. TWOFOLD OBJECT OF THE COMBAT.
- 3. EXAMPLE.
- 4. WHEN THIS VIEW IS NOT TAKEN, THEN A FALSE VALUE IS GIVEN TO OTHER THINGS.
- CHAPTER II. Elements of Strategy
- CHAPTER III. Moral Forces
- CHAPTER IV. The Chief Moral Powers
- CHAPTER V. Military Virtue of an Army
- CHAPTER VI. Boldness
- CHAPTER VII. Perseverance
- CHAPTER VIII. Superiority of Numbers
- CHAPTER IX. The Surprise
- CHAPTER X. Stratagem
- CHAPTER XI. Assembly of Forces in Space
- CHAPTER XII. Assembly of Forces in Time
- CHAPTER XIII. Strategic Reserve
- CHAPTER XIV. Economy of Forces
- CHAPTER XV. Geometrical Element
- CHAPTER XVI. On the Suspension of the Act in War
- CHAPTER XVII. On the Character of Modern War
- CHAPTER XVIII. Tension and Rest
- The Dynamic Law of War
- BOOK IV THE COMBAT
- CHAPTER I. Introductory
- CHAPTER II. Character of a Modern Battle
- CHAPTER III. The Combat in General
- CHAPTER IV. The Combat in General (continuation)
- CHAPTER V. On the Signification of the Combat
- CHAPTER VI. Duration of Combat
- CHAPTER VII. Decision of the Combat
- CHAPTER VIII. Mutual Understanding as to a Battle
- CHAPTER IX. The Battle(*)
- ITS DECISION
- CHAPTER X. Effects of Victory
- CHAPTER XI. The Use of the Battle
- CHAPTER XII. Strategic Means of Utilising Victory
- CHAPTER XIII. Retreat After a Lost Battle
- CHAPTER XIV. Night Fighting
- BOOK V MILITARY FORCES
- CHAPTER I. General Scheme
- CHAPTER II. Theatre of War, Army, Campaign
- 1.—Theatre of War.
- 2.—Army.
- 3.—Campaign.
- CHAPTER III. Relation of Power
- CHAPTER IV. Relation of the Three Arms
- CHAPTER V. Order of Battle of an Army
- 1.—Division.
- 2.—Combination of Arms.
- 3.—The Disposition.
- CHAPTER VI. General Disposition of an Army
- CHAPTER VII. Advanced Guard and Out-Posts
- CHAPTER VIII. Mode of Action of Advanced Corps
- CHAPTER IX. Camps
- CHAPTER X. Marches
- CHAPTER XI. Marches (Continued)
- CHAPTER XII. Marches (continued)
- CHAPTER XIII. Cantonments
- CHAPTER XIV. Subsistence
- 1.—Living on the inhabitants, or on the community, which is the same thing.
- 2.—Subsistence through exactions enforced by the troops themselves.
- 3.—By regular requisitions.
- 4.—Subsistence from Magazines.
- CHAPTER XV. Base of Operations
- CHAPTER XVI. Lines of Communication
- CHAPTER XVII. On Country and Ground
- CHAPTER XVIII. Command of Ground
- BOOK VI DEFENCE
- CHAPTER I. Offence and Defence
- 1.—Conception of Defence.
- 2.—Advantages of the Defensive.
- CHAPTER II. The Relations of the Offensive and Defensive to Each Other in Tactics
- CHAPTER III. The Relations of the Offensive and Defensive to Each Other in Strategy
- CHAPTER IV. Convergence of Attack and Divergence of Defence
- CHAPTER V. Character of the Strategic Defensive
- CHAPTER VI. Extent of the Means of Defence
- 1.—Landwehr (Militia).
- 2.—Fortresses.
- 3.—The People.
- 4.—The National Armament,
- 5.—Allies.
- CHAPTER VII. Mutual Action and Reaction of Attack and Defence
- CHAPTER VIII. Methods of Resistance
- CHAPTER IX. Defensive Battle
- CHAPTER X. Fortresses
- CHAPTER XI. Fortresses (Continued)
- CHAPTER XII. Defensive Position
- CHAPTER XIII. Strong Positions and Entrenched Camps
- CHAPTER XIV. Flank Positions
- CHAPTER XV. Defence of Mountains
- CHAPTER XVI. Defence of Mountains (Continued)
- 1. A mountain system as a battle-field.
- 2. The influence of mountains on other parts of the country.
- 3. Mountains considered in their aspect of a strategic barrier.
- 4. Mountains in their relation to the provisioning of an army.
- CHAPTER XVII. Defence of Mountains (continued)
- CHAPTER XVIII. Defence of Streams and Rivers
- CHAPTER XIX. Defence of Streams and Rivers (continued)
- CHAPTER XX. A. Defence of Swamps
- B. Inundations
- CHAPTER XXI. Defence of Forests
- CHAPTER XX. The Cordon
- CHAPTER XXIII. Key to the Country
- CHAPTER XXIV. Operating Against a Flank
- CHAPTER XXV. Retreat into the Interior of the Country
- CHAPTER XXVI. Arming the Nation
- CHAPTER XXVII. Defence of a Theatre of War
- CHAPTER XXVIII. Defence of a Theatre of War—(continued)
- CHAPTER XXIX. Defence of a Theatre of War (continued) Successive Resistance.
- CHAPTER XXX. Defence of a Theatre of War (continued) When no Decision is Sought for.
- SKETCHES FOR BOOK VII THE ATTACK
- CHAPTER I. The Attack in Relation to the Defence
- CHAPTER II. Nature of the Strategical Attack
- CHAPTER III. Of the Objects of Strategical Attack
- CHAPTER IV. Decreasing Force of the Attack
- CHAPTER V. Culminating Point of the Attack
- CHAPTER VI. Destruction of the Enemy’s Armies
- CHAPTER VII. The Offensive Battle
- CHAPTER VIII. Passage of Rivers
- CHAPTER IX. Attack on Defensive Positions
- CHAPTER X. Attack on an Entrenched Camp
- CHAPTER XI. Attack on a Mountain
- CHAPTER XII. Attack on Cordon Lines
- CHAPTER XIII. Manœuvring
- CHAPTER XIV. Attack on Morasses, Inundations, Woods
- CHAPTER XV. Attack on a Theatre of War with the View to a Decision
- CHAPTER XVI. Attack on a Theatre of War without the View to a Great Decision
- CHAPTER XVII. Attack on Fortresses
- CHAPTER XVIII. Attack on Convoys
- CHAPTER XIX. Attack on the Enemy’s Army in its Cantonments
- CHAPTER XX. Diversion
- CHAPTER XXI. Invasion
- CHAPTER XXII. On the Culminating Point of Victory(*)
- SKETCHES FOR BOOK VIII PLAN OF WAR
- CHAPTER I. Introduction
- CHAPTER II. Absolute and Real War
- CHAPTER III. A. Interdependence of the Parts in War
- B. On the Magnitude of the Object of the War, and the Efforts to be Made.
- CHAPTER IV. Ends in War More Precisely Defined Overthrow of the Enemy
- CHAPTER V. Ends in War More Precisely Defined (continued) Limited Object
- CHAPTER VI. A. Influence of the Political Object on the Military Object
- B. War as an Instrument of Policy
- CHAPTER VII. Limited Object—Offensive War
- CHAPTER VIII. Limited Object—Defence
- CHAPTER IX. Plan of War when the Destruction of the Enemy is the Object
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