Ferdinand Foch Quotes

Airplanes Are Interesting Toys But Of No Military Value.

All The Same, The Fundamental Truths Which Govern That Art Are Still Unchangeable; Just As The Principles Of Mechanics Must Always Govern Architecture, Whether The Building Be Made Of Wood, Stone, Iron Or Concrete; Just As The Principles Of Harmony Govern Music Of Whatever Kind. It Is Still Necessary, Then, To Establish The Principles Of War.

The Distribution Of Troops Devoted To The Defence Of A Place Includes A Garrison, An Occupying Force, Numerically As Weak As Possible; A Reserve As Strong As Possible, Designed For Counterattacking And For Providing Itself, At The Moment It Goes Into Action, With A Security Service Which Will Guard It From Any Possible Surprise.

This Absence Of Similarity Among Military Questions Naturally Brings Out The Inability Of Memory To Solve Them; Also The Sterility Of Invariable Forms, Such As Figures, Geometrical Drawings ( épures ), Plans ( Schémas ), Etc. One Only Right Solution Imposes Itself:;: Namely, The Application, Varying According To Circumstances, Of Fixed Principles.

A Beaten General Is Disgraced Forever.

I Am Conscious Of Having Served England As I Served My Own Country.

The Power To Command Has Never Meant The Power To Remain Mysterious.

The Laurels Of Victory Are At The Point Of The Enemy Bayonets. They Must Be Plucked There; They Must Be Carried By A Hand-to-hand Fight If One Really Means To Conquer.

No Study Is Possible On The Battlefield.

Far From Being A Sum Of Distinct And Partial Results, Victory Is The Consequence Of Efforts, Some Of Which Are Victorious While Others Appear To Be Fruitless, Which Nevertheless All Aim At A Common Goal, All Drive At A Common Result: Namely, At A Decision, A Conclusion Which Alone Can Provide Victory.

In Tactics, Action Is The Governing Rule Of War.

One Does Simply What One Can In Order To Apply What One Knows .