Sublime

Le mot même était ringard. Or personne ne veut mourir pour une idée honteuse. Qui se jetterait dans un jeu dont on vous explique qu’il n’en vaut pas la chandelle ? C’était précisément là où le génie de Napoléon s’était déployé. L’Empereur avait réussi une entreprise de propagande exceptionnelle. Il avait imposé son rêve par le verbe. Sa vision s’ét

Dear General, More and more in the last few days my mind has turned back to you and to the days when I was privileged to serve intimately under your wise counsel and leadership. I cannot tell you how much I would appreciate, at this moment, an opportunity for an hour’s discussion with you on problems that constantly beset me

No army, however brave, can win when its generals are weak.

The ‘Old Fritz’ had earned his affectionate nickname in a series of successive military victories (including against France in 1757), often leading his men into battle in person, putting himself in such danger that several horses were shot from under him.

The British Army produced no first-rate generals during 1939–45. This was partly because it always acted as a junior partner – first to the French in 1939–40, and then to the Americans after 1942 – and partly because it was condemned by its political superiors to ultra caution. The Desert Campaign of 1940–43 was the only one in which the British ex

Carthago delenda est.

Fox Conner did not speak to Eisenhower about Napoleon or any other great commander of the past, nor did he discuss the importance of history to the development of a well-rounded military officer. Instead, Conner drew three novels from the shelves of his collection and handed them to his assistant. “You might be interested in these,” Conner suggeste