Military strategy is such an interesting field. We are always negotiating power and resources, even in peace time, and even when we aren’t actively thinking about it.
Marriages, taxes, groceries, rent, salaries… Every interaction we have involves an exchange of resources. The following quotes from military experts focus on high stakes, full on war. But they can teach us a lot about tactics and strategy in our daily lives as well.
SOME CONVERSATION QUESTIONS SUGGESTIONS:
-What does the quote or adage mean?
-Can you think of an example of how the idea can be applied?
-Do you agree or disagree? Why?
READ THE QUOTES ALOUD, THEN SELECT ONES TO DISCUSS:
The best defense is a good offense.
-Author Unknown
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
“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.”
“He who wishes to fight must first count the cost.”
“If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.”
“Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”
-Sun Tzu
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”
-Napoleon
“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.”
-Winston Churchill
“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently what shouldn’t be done at all.”
-Peter Drucker