18th Century military quotes, what can you find?!

[ThePianist]

I can remember no quotes on my own, but here is a very interesting collection of things called CIC on this website:

http://www.strategypage.com/cic/reader.asp?target=CIC01

Each article (CIC) has some usually funny military quotes plus some descriptions of special occurrences in battle (often 1800s).
The rest of the website writes current events as "military history of now", it may have some accurate information (second-tier or high tier) you would not find on the Web, but needs to be read with several grains of salt, because many or most of the article writers try to push the neoconservative view, which is BS and is founded on faulty BS assumptions.

[Elmar Bijlsma]

With so many quotes full of bravado and glory, I feel the following quote is appropriate. It is a WW I contribution from the British soldiers operating the Wipers Times that gives a more accurate and down to earth view on military matters.

To Subaltern: Yes, every junior officer may carry a Field Marshal's baton in his knapsack,
but we think you'll discard that to make room for an extra pair of socks before very long.

[scipiosgoblin]

The rest of the website writes current events as "military history of now", it may have some accurate information (second-tier or high tier) you would not find on the Web, but needs to be read with several grains of salt, because many or most of the article writers try to push the neoconservative view, which is BS and is founded on faulty BS assumptions.

Or the truth, depending on your point of view. Why don't we leave politics to the back room?

SG

[Nikos_Rouvelas]

"The right wing, where I stood, was exposed to and received all the enemy's fire ... I heard the bullets whistle, and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound."
George Washington

[Fisherking]

Never forget that no military leader has ever become great without audacity. If the leader is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles."
- Karl von Clausewitz

"The majority of people are timid by nature, and that is why they constantly exaggerate danger. All influences on the military leader, therefore, combine to give him a false impression of his opponent's strength, and from this arises a new source of indecision."
- Karl von Clausewitz

"War is the province of chance. In no other sphere of human activity must such a margin be left for this intruder. It increases the uncertainty of every circumstance and deranges the course of events."
- Karl von Clausewitz

"The best form of defense is attack."
- Karl von Clausewitz

[Nelson]

These are from George Washington. The last is prescient:

Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another.


Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.


Some day, following the example of the United States of America, there will be a United States of Europe.

[Fisherking]

Along the line of Washington:

Experience teaches us that it is much easier to prevent an enemy from posting themselves than it is to dislodge them after they have got possession.
George Washington

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
George Washington

Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth.
George Washington

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.
George Washington

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.
George Washington

And a famous quote you should enjoy!

"I have to follow them. I am their leader."
-Alexandre-Auguste Ledru-Rollin, Leader of the French Revolution of 1784