Bounty Hunter's blog: "Quotes"

tomb now suffices him for whom the whole world was not sufficient. Alexander the Great Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters. Alexander the Great How great are the dangers I face to win a good name in Athens. Alexander the Great I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well. Alexander the Great I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion. Alexander the Great I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion. Alexander the Great Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all. Alexander the Great There is nothing impossible to him who will try. Alexander the Great A tomb now suffices him for whom the whole world was not sufficient. Alexander the Great How great are the dangers I face to win a good name in Athens. Alexander the Great I am dying from the treatment of too many physicians. Alexander the Great I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well. Alexander the Great I send you a kaffis of mustard seed, that you may taste and acknowledge the bitterness of my victory. Alexander the Great I will not steal a victory. The end and perfection of our victories is to avoid the vices and infirmities of those whom we subdue. Alexander the Great I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion. Alexander the Great If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes. Alexander the Great Is it not worthy of tears that, when the number of worlds is infinite, we have not yet become lords of a single one? Alexander the Great There is nothing impossible to him who will try. Alexander the Great

Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor of the French Lived: 1769–1821 "Soldiers! Forty centuries behold you!" - Napoleon Bonaparte, July 1798. To his army before the Battle of the Pyramids. "The moral is to the physical as three to one" - Napoleon Bonaparte "My business is to succeed, and I’m good at it. I create my Iliad by my actions, create it day by day." - Napoleon (1804), in a conversation with Pope Pius VII at Fontainebleau. "the secret of war lies in the communications" - Napoleon Bonaparte "The barbarous custom of having men beaten who are suspected of having important secrets to reveal must be abolished. It has always been recognized that this way of interrogating men, by putting them to torture, produces nothing worthwhile." - Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon to Berthier 11 Nov 1798, Corres., V, no. 3606 p. 128 quoted in - Napoleon on the Art of War "A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon" 15 July 1815. To the captain of HMS Bellerophon. HMS Bellerophon carried Napoleon from the Ile d'Aix to Plymouth before he was transferred to the HMS Northumberland and taken into exile on St Helena. "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." - Napoleon Bonaparte "It is better to have a known enemy than a forced ally" - Napoleon Bonaparte "A man does not have himself killed for a half-pence a day or for a petty distinction. You must speak to the soul in order to electrify him" - Napoleon Bonaparte "Conscription is the vitality of a nation, the purification of its morality, and the real foundations of all its habits" - Napoleon, "Political Aphorisms" 1848 Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily.” - Napoleon Bonaparte "To have good soldiers, a nation must always be at war." - Napoleon Bonaparte " The most dangerous moment comes with victory" - Napoleon Bonaparte "The bayonet has always been the weapon of the brave and the chief tool of victory" - Napoleon Bonaparte "Cavalry is useful before, during, and after the battle" - Napoleon Bonaparte "Without cavalry, battles are without result" - Napoleon Bonaparte Victory belongs to the most persevering. -Napoleon Bonaparte I love a brave soldier who has undergone the baptism of fire. - Napoleon Bonaparte Two armies are two bodies which meet and try to frighten each other. - Napoleon Bonaparte Soldiers usually win the battles and generals get the credit for them. - Napoleon Bonaparte "Courage is like love: it must have hope for nourishment." - Napoleon Bonaparte ("Maxims") "Human life is the only thing that takes care of itself." - Napoleon Bonaparte (on why he left men exposed to the enemy in Russia) "In war there is but one favorable moment; the great art is to seize it!" - Napoleon Bonaparte "The most important qualification of a soldier is fortitude under fatigue and privation. Courage is only second; hardship, poverty and want are the best school for a soldier." - Napoleon Bonaparte "There are but two powers in the world, the sword and the mind. In the long run the sword is always beaten by the mind." - Napoleon Bonaparte "There are certain things in war of which the commander alone comprehends the importance. Nothing but his superior firmness and ability can subdue and surmount all difficulties." - Napoleon Bonaparte "Strategy is the art of making use of time and space. I am less concerned about the latter than the former. Space we can recover, lost time never." - Napoleon Bonaparte "He that makes war without many mistakes has not made war very long." - Napoleon Bonaparte "One bad general is worth two good ones." - Napoleon Bonaparte Made a career of finding, and defeating, inept enemy generals. "How many things apparently impossible have nevertheless been performed by resolute men who had no alternative but death." - Napoleon Bonaparte "Read over and over again the campaigns of Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, Gustavus, Turenne, Eugene and Frederic. ... This is the only way to become a great general and master the secrets of the art of war. ..." -Napoleon Bonaparte, "Military Maxims of Napoleon" A celebrated people lose dignity upon a closer view. Napoleon Bonaparte A Constitution should be short and obscure. Napoleon Bonaparte A leader is a dealer in hope. Napoleon Bonaparte A man cannot become an atheist merely by wishing it. Napoleon Bonaparte A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights. Napoleon Bonaparte A picture is worth a thousand words. Napoleon Bonaparte A revolution can be neither made nor stopped. The only thing that can be done is for one of several of its children to give it a direction by dint of victories. Napoleon Bonaparte A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets. Napoleon Bonaparte A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon. Napoleon Bonaparte A throne is only a bench covered with velvet. Napoleon Bonaparte A true man hates no one. Napoleon Bonaparte Ability is nothing without opportunity. Napoleon Bonaparte All religions have been made by men. Napoleon Bonaparte Ambition never is in a greater hurry that I; it merely keeps pace with circumstances and with my general way of thinking. Napoleon Bonaparte Among those who dislike oppression are many who like to oppress. Napoleon Bonaparte An army marches on its stomach. Napoleon Bonaparte Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment. Napoleon Bonaparte Courage is like love; it must have hope to nourish it. Napoleon Bonaparte Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily. Napoleon Bonaparte Doctors will have more lives to answer for in the next world than even we generals. Napoleon Bonaparte Forethought we may have, undoubtedly, but not foresight. Napoleon Bonaparte Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets. Napoleon Bonaparte France has more need of me than I have need of France. Napoleon Bonaparte From the heights of these pyramids, forty centuries look down on us. Napoleon Bonaparte Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever. Napoleon Bonaparte Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them. Napoleon Bonaparte He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat. Napoleon Bonaparte He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander. Napoleon Bonaparte History is a set of lies agreed upon. Napoleon Bonaparte History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon. Napoleon Bonaparte I am sometimes a fox and sometimes a lion. The whole secret of government lies in knowing when to be the one or the other. Napoleon Bonaparte I am the successor, not of Louis XVI, but of Charlemagne. Napoleon Bonaparte I can no longer obey; I have tasted command, and I cannot give it up. Napoleon Bonaparte I have only one counsel for you - be master. Napoleon Bonaparte I love power. But it is as an artist that I love it. I love it as a musician loves his violin, to draw out its sounds and chords and harmonies. Napoleon Bonaparte I made all my generals out of mud. Napoleon Bonaparte If I had to choose a religion, the sun as the universal giver of life would be my god. Napoleon Bonaparte If they want peace, nations should avoid the pin-pricks that precede cannon shots. Napoleon Bonaparte If you want a thing done well, do it yourself. Napoleon Bonaparte If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing. Napoleon Bonaparte Imagination rules the world. Napoleon Bonaparte Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools. Napoleon Bonaparte In order to govern, the question is not to follow out a more or less valid theory but to build with whatever materials are at hand. The inevitable must be accepted and turned to advantage. Napoleon Bonaparte In politics stupidity is not a handicap. Napoleon Bonaparte In politics... never retreat, never retract... never admit a mistake. Napoleon Bonaparte It is the cause and not the death that makes the martyr. Napoleon Bonaparte It is the cause, not the death, that makes the martyr. Napoleon Bonaparte It requires more courage to suffer than to die. Napoleon Bonaparte Let the path be open to talent. Napoleon Bonaparte Medicines are only fit for old people. Napoleon Bonaparte Men are more easily governed through their vices than through their virtues. Napoleon Bonaparte Men are Moved by two levers only: fear and self interest. Napoleon Bonaparte Men take only their needs into consideration - never their abilities. Napoleon Bonaparte Music is the voice that tells us that the human race is greater than it knows. Napoleon Bonaparte Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence. Napoleon Bonaparte Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. Napoleon Bonaparte Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide. Napoleon Bonaparte One must change one's tactics every ten years if one wishes to maintain one's superiority. Napoleon Bonaparte One should never forbid what one lacks the power to prevent. Napoleon Bonaparte Power is my mistress. I have worked too hard at her conquest to allow anyone to take her away from me. Napoleon Bonaparte Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should constantly consult. Napoleon Bonaparte

Sun Tzu Quotations Lived: c.500–320. B.C The Sun Tzu quotes are from "The Art of War". The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected - Sun Tzu, the Art of War All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. - Sun Tzu, the Art of War If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. - Sun Tzu, the Art of War "The art of using troops is this: ......When ten to the enemy's one, surround him; ......When five times his strength, attack him; ......If double his strength, divide him; ......If equally matched you may engage him; ......If weaker numerically, be capable of withdrawing; ......And if in all respects unequal, be capable of eluding him, ..........for a small force is but booty for one more powerful." - Sun Tzu, the Art Of War "Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death!" - Sun Tzu, the Art of War the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to w in or lose. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War He who wishes to fight must first count the cost. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be dampened. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain. Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor dampened, your strength exhausted and your treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity. Then no man, however wise, will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue... In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War Though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy... use the conquered foe to augment one's own strength. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans, the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces, the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field, and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon his army: By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey; This is called hobbling the army. By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army; This causes restlessness in the soldier's minds. By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. - Sun Tzu The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. - Sun Tzu Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated. - Sun Tzu The victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory. - Sun Tzu Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals. - Sun Tzu In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack - the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers. The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a circle - you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination? - Sun Tzu Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted. - Sun Tzu The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him. - Sun Tzu An army may march great distances without distress, if it marches through country where the enemy is not. You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. - Sun Tzu Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack. - Sun Tzu If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve. If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way. - Sun Tzu Should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak. - Sun Tzu In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them. - Sun Tzu Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards... Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain. - Sun Tzu So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak. - Sun Tzu The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain. - Sun Tzu Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous. - Sun Tzu We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors. - Sun Tzu Do not interfere with an army that is returning home. When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard. - Sun Tzu The art of 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. - Sun Tzu When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is INSUBORDINATION. When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is COLLAPSE. When the higher officers are angry and insubordinate, and on meeting the enemy give battle on their own account from a feeling of resentment, before the commander-in-chief can tell whether or no he is in a position to fight, the result is RUIN. - Sun Tzu The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom. - Sun Tzu Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death. If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder: then your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose. - Sun Tzu If we know that our own men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory. If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory. If we know that the enemy is open to attack, and also know that our men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the nature of the ground makes fighting impracticable, we have still gone only halfway towards victory. - Sun Tzu If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete. - Sun Tzu On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile ground, halt not. On contentious ground, attack not. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way. On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies. On serious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground, keep steadily on the march. On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. On desperate ground, fight. - Sun Tzu If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly array and on the point of marching to the attack, I should say: "Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will." Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots. - Sun Tzu Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve. - Sun Tzu If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity. - Sun Tzu Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements; and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man. - Sun Tzu Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise; for the result is waste of time and general stagnation. Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources. - Sun Tzu Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical. If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. - Sun Tzu No leader should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no leader should fight a battle simply out of pique. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. Hence the enlightened leader is heedful, and the good leader full of caution. - Sun Tzu quotes Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity; (2) They cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straight forwardness; (3) Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports; (4) Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of warfare; (5) If a secret piece of news is divulged by a spy before the time is ripe, he must be put to death together with the man to whom the secret was told. - Sun Tzu quotes The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they will become double agents and available for our service. It is through the information brought by the double agent that we are able to acquire and employ local and inward spies. It is owing to his information, again, that we can cause the doomed spy to carry false tidings to the enemy. - Sun Tzu quotes "To capture the enemy's entire army is better than to destroy it; to take intact a regiment, a company, or a squad is better than to destroy them. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the supreme of excellence. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence." - Sun Tzu quotes The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected - Sun Tzu, the Art of War All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. - Sun Tzu, the Art of War If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. - Sun Tzu, the Art of War "The art of using troops is this: ......When ten to the enemy's one, surround him; ......When five times his strength, attack him; ......If double his strength, divide him; ......If equally matched you may engage him; ......If weaker numerically, be capable of withdrawing; ......And if in all respects unequal, be capable of eluding him, ..........for a small force is but booty for one more powerful." - Sun Tzu, the Art Of War "Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death!" - Sun Tzu, the Art of War the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to w in or lose. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War He who wishes to fight must first count the cost. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be dampened. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain. Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor dampened, your strength exhausted and your treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity. Then no man, however wise, will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue... In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War Though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy... use the conquered foe to augment one's own strength. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans, the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces, the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field, and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon his army: By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey; This is called hobbling the army. By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army; This causes restlessness in the soldier's minds. By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign. -Sun Tzu, the Art of War If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. - Sun Tzu The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. - Sun Tzu Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated. - Sun Tzu The victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory. - Sun Tzu Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals. - Sun Tzu In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack - the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers. The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a circle - you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination? - Sun Tzu Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted. - Sun Tzu The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him. - Sun Tzu An army may march great distances without distress, if it marches through country where the enemy is not. You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. - Sun Tzu Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack. - Sun Tzu If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve. If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way. - Sun Tzu Should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak. - Sun Tzu In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them. - Sun Tzu Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards... Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain. - Sun Tzu So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak. - Sun Tzu The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain. - Sun Tzu Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous. - Sun Tzu We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors. - Sun Tzu Do not interfere with an army that is returning home. When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard. - Sun Tzu The art of 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. - Sun Tzu When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is INSUBORDINATION. When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is COLLAPSE. When the higher officers are angry and insubordinate, and on meeting the enemy give battle on their own account from a feeling of resentment, before the commander-in-chief can tell whether or no he is in a position to fight, the result is RUIN. - Sun Tzu The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom. - Sun Tzu Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death. If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder: then your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose. - Sun Tzu If we know that our own men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory. If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory. If we know that the enemy is open to attack, and also know that our men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the nature of the ground makes fighting impracticable, we have still gone only halfway towards victory. - Sun Tzu If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete. - Sun Tzu On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile ground, halt not. On contentious ground, attack not. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way. On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies. On serious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground, keep steadily on the march. On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. On desperate ground, fight. - Sun Tzu If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly array and on the point of marching to the attack, I should say: "Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will." Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots. - Sun Tzu Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve. - Sun Tzu If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity. - Sun Tzu Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements; and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man. - Sun Tzu Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise; for the result is waste of time and general stagnation. Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources. - Sun Tzu Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical. If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. - Sun Tzu

Niccolo Machiavelli Italian political philosopher, statesman. Lived: 1469-1527 "There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others." - Niccolò Machiavelli "The first method of estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him." - Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince "I hold it to be of great prudence for men to abstain from threats and insulting words towards any one, for neither the one nor the other in any way diminishes the strength of the enemy; but the one makes him more cautious, and the other increases his hatred of you, and makes him more persevering in his efforts to injure you" - Niccolo Machiavelli War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans. - Niccolo Machiavelli "Never do an enemy a small injury" - Niccolo Machiavelli "War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms." - Niccolo Machiavelli "Few men are brave by nature, but good order and experience make many so. Good order and discipline in many army are to be depended upon than courage alone." - Niccolo Machiavelli A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise. Niccolo Machiavelli A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example. Niccolo Machiavelli A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair. Niccolo Machiavelli A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests. Niccolo Machiavelli Before all else, be armed. Niccolo Machiavelli Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better. Niccolo Machiavelli Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage. Niccolo Machiavelli For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against. Niccolo Machiavelli God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us. Niccolo Machiavelli Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil. Niccolo Machiavelli He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command. Niccolo Machiavelli Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed. Niccolo Machiavelli I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it. Niccolo Machiavelli If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared. Niccolo Machiavelli It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. Niccolo Machiavelli It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver. Niccolo Machiavelli It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved. Niccolo Machiavelli It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope. Niccolo Machiavelli It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles. Niccolo Machiavelli Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions. Niccolo Machiavelli Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked. Niccolo Machiavelli Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared. Niccolo Machiavelli Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others. Niccolo Machiavelli Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot. Niccolo Machiavelli Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear. Niccolo Machiavelli Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds. Niccolo Machiavelli Never was anything great achieved without danger. Niccolo Machiavelli No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution. Niccolo Machiavelli Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain. Niccolo Machiavelli One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others. Niccolo Machiavelli One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived. Niccolo Machiavelli Politics have no relation to morals. Niccolo Machiavelli Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society. Niccolo Machiavelli Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more. Niccolo Machiavelli Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking. Niccolo Machiavelli Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces. Niccolo Machiavelli The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love. Niccolo Machiavelli The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous. Niccolo Machiavelli The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. Niccolo Machiavelli The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow. Niccolo Machiavelli The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. Niccolo Machiavelli The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all. Niccolo Machiavelli The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not. Niccolo Machiavelli The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present. Niccolo Machiavelli The question is, then, do we try to make things easy on ourselves or do we try to make things easy on our customers, whoever they may be? Niccolo Machiavelli The wise man does at once what the fool does finally. Niccolo Machiavelli The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes. Niccolo Machiavelli There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless. Niccolo Machiavelli There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others. Niccolo Machiavelli There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt. Niccolo Machiavelli There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Niccolo Machiavelli To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must be of the people. Niccolo Machiavelli War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms. Niccolo Machiavelli War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans. Niccolo Machiavelli We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either. Niccolo Machiavelli When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred. Niccolo Machiavelli Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. Niccolo Machiavelli Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself. Niccolo Machiavelli Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times. Niccolo Machiavelli

It is not sufficient that I succeed - all others must fail. With Heaven's aid I have conquered for you a huge empire. But my life was too short to achieve the conquest of the world. That task is left for you. I am the punishment of God...If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you. The greatest happiness is to scatter your enemy, to drive him before you, to see his cities reduced to ashes, to see those who love him shrouded in tears, and to gather into your bosom his wives and daughters. If my body dies, let my body die, but do not let my country die.

Know that your most worthy efforts will be scorned by your peers, for it is they who suffer most when you excel. If your actions and ambitions threaten them not, you're simply striving toward the insignificant. Contrary to what most chieftains think, you're not remembered by what you did in the past, but by what most Huns think you did. It is the custom of all Huns to hold strong to personal and national honor. This is a cardinal virtue. One's word must prevail over all other considerations, including political expediency. A wise chieftain never depends on luck. Rather, he always trusts his future to hard work, stamina, tenacity and a positive attitude. COURAGE - Chieftains who lead our Huns must have courage. They must be fearless and have the fortitude to carry out assignments given them - the gallantry to accept the risks of leadership. They must not balk at the sight of obstacles, nor must they become bewildered when in the presence of adversity. The role of a chieftain has inherent periods of loneliness, despair, ridicule and rejection. A nation of one ancestry and race is weak. We must hold strong our custom of welcoming all foreigners who seek to join our cause, treating them with dignity and respect and teaching them our language and customs. Once a chieftan has delegated responsibilities, he should never interfere, lest his subordinates come to believe that the duties are not truly theirs. Such superficial delegation yields fury in the hearts of subordinates. You must remember that success in your office will depend largely upon your sustained willingness to work hard. Sweat rules over inspiration! Grant your Huns the benefit of your interest in the welfare of their families and the condition of their stores; share your riches with those who are loyal and stand in need. They will be certain to willing to follow you into the mouth of hell, should the occasion arise. Success is the result of hard work that overcomes all forms of disappointment and moments of discouragement. Success is not achieved through complex strategies. It is achieved only through conscientiously carrying out the duties of your office and exercising the responsibilities of leadership - nothing else will prevail. Learn from defeat! If you fail to sharpen your leadership prowess after confronting unconquered obstacles, your experiences were for naught, and you, as well as your subordinates, will become nothing more than a helpless victim. A chieftain cannot win if he loses his nerve. He should be self-confident and self-reliant and even if he does not win, he will know that he has done his best. To experience the strength of chieftains we must tolerate some of their weaknesses. Perhaps the most critical element of decision making is timing. Prompt determination after appropriate deliberation is a worthy principle of decisiveness. You must be willing to accept the simple fact that you have flaws and will need to work every day to become a better chieftain than you were yesterday. TIMING - Essential to all acts of leadership is the timing of recommendations and actions. There is no magic formula for developing a sense of timing. One often gains this leadership skill by applying the lessons learned through failure. Knowing whom you are dealing with, their motives, characters, priorities and ambitions are critical elements even when seeking approval of the simplest recommendations. You must be willing to learn, to listen, and to grow in your awareness and abilities to perform the duties of your office. This is not often accomplished without tremendous effort and sacrifice of other interests. If it were easy to be a Chieftain, everyone would be one.

Change hurts. It makes people insecure, confused, and angry. People want things to be the same as they've always been, because that makes life easier. But, if you're a leader, you can't let your people hang on to the past. Popularity is not leadership. We all knew there was just one way to improve our odds for survival: train, train, train. Sometimes, if your training is properly intense it will kill you. More often -- much, much more often -- it will save your life. Pain was their body's way of telling them that they'd pushed themselves to their limits -- which was exactly where they were supposed to be. If you train people properly, they won't be able to tell a drill from the real thing. If anything, the real thing will be easier. For the past weeks I'd been reacting. That was no way to win. To win, you take the initiative. You instigate the action. You make the opponent react to you. When you fight, you don't fight for abstract values like the flag, or the nation, or democracy. You fight for your buddy. You fight to keep him alive, and he fights to keep you alive, and you go on that way, day after day, battle after battle. And when one of your buddies dies, something inside you dies as well. But you go on. You fight, so that his death isn't meaningless, his sacrifice isn't for nothing.

A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark. -Dante Alighieri All hope abandon, ye who enter here! -Dante Alighieri Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild. -Dante Alighieri Be as a tower firmly set; Shakes not its top for any blast that blows. -Dante Alighieri Beauty awakens the soul to act. -Dante Alighieri Consider your origin; you were not born to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge. -Dante Alighieri Consider your origins: you were not made that you might live as brutes, but so as to follow virtue and knowledge. -Dante Alighieri Consider your origins: you were not made to live as brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge. -Dante Alighieri Follow your own star! -Dante Alighieri From a little spark may burst a flame. -Dante Alighieri He listens well who takes notes. -Dante Alighieri Heat cannot be separated from fire, or beauty from The Eternal. -Dante Alighieri Heaven wheels above you, displaying to you her eternal glories, and still your eyes are on the ground. -Dante Alighieri I love to doubt as well as know. -Dante Alighieri I wept not, so to stone within I grew. -Dante Alighieri If the present world go astray, the cause is in you, in you it is to be sought. -Dante Alighieri In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost. -Dante Alighieri Nature is the art of God. -Dante Alighieri No one thinks of how much blood it costs. -Dante Alighieri O conscience, upright and stainless, how bitter a sting to thee is a little fault! -Dante Alighieri Pride, envy, avarice - these are the sparks have set on fire the hearts of all men. -Dante Alighieri Remember tonight... for it is the beginning of always. -Dante Alighieri Small projects need much more help than great. -Dante Alighieri The customs and fashions of men change like leaves on the bough, some of which go and others come. -Dante Alighieri The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. -Dante Alighieri The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality. -Dante Alighieri The more perfect a thing is, the more susceptible to good and bad treatment it is. -Dante Alighieri The sad souls of those who lived without blame and without praise. -Dante Alighieri The secret of getting things done is to act! -Dante Alighieri There is no greater sorrow than to be mindful of the happy time in misery. -Dante Alighieri There is no greater sorrow than to recall a happy time in the midst of wretchedness. -Dante Alighieri There is no greater sorrow than to recall happiness in times of misery. -Dante Alighieri Will cannot be quenched against its will. -Dante Alighieri Worldly fame is but a breath of wind that blows now this way, and now that, and changes name as it changes direction. -Dante Alighieri You shall find out how salt is the taste of another man's bread, and how hard is the way up and down another man's stairs. -Dante Alighieri

"Big deal, death comes with the territory. See you in Disneyland." -Richard Ramirez "Even psychopaths have emotions, then again, maybe not." -Richard Ramirez "Killing is killing whether done for duty, profit or fun." -Richard Ramirez "We've all got the power in our hands to kill, but most people are afraid to use it. The ones who aren't afraid, control life itself." -Richard Ramirez "You maggots make me sick, I will be avenged. Lucifer dwells within us all." -Richard Ramirez

"Even when she was dead, she was still bitching at me. I couldn't get her to shut up!" -Ed Kemper "I certainly wanted for my mother a nice, quiet easy death like everyone else wants." -Ed Kemper "I just wanted to see how it felt to shoot Grandma." -Ed Kemper "I remember there was actually a sexual thrill . . . you hear that little pop and pull their heads of and hold their heads up by the hair. Whipping their heads off, their body sitting there. That'd get me off." -Ed Kemper "If I killed them, you know, they couldn't reject me as a man. It was more or less making a doll out of a human being . . . and carrying out my fantasies with a doll, a living human doll." -Ed Kemper "It was an urge. . . . . A strong urge, and the longer I let it go the stronger it got, to where I was taking risks to go out and kill people--risks that normally, according to my little rules of operation, I wouldn't take because they could lead to arrest. " -Ed Kemper "One side of me says, I'd like to talk to her, date her. The other side of me says, I wonder what her head would look like on a stick?" -Ed Kemper "The first good-looking girl I see tonight is going to die." -Ed Kemper "With a girl, there's a lot left in the girl's body without a head. Of course, the personality is gone." -Ed Kemper