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Difficulty of subsistence made the invaders reduce the…

“Difficulty of subsistence made the invaders reduce the numbers of the army to a point at which it might live on the country during the prosecution of the war.” quote by Thucydides
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““Difficulty of subsistence made the invaders reduce the numbers of the army to a point at which it might live on the country during the prosecution of the war.””

Thucydides

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Logistical strain forces invading forces to shrink their armies so they can sustain themselves locally during prolonged conflict.

In simple terms: Armies must be small enough to live off the land.

Key Takeaway

Plan supply lines before campaigns.

Themes

logistics war resource management

Mood

pragmatic analytical

Type

historical military

When to use this quote

  • ancient sieges
  • modern expeditionary forces
  • resource‑scarce campaigns

Key Concepts

strategic adaptation military economics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do modern armies handle supply in hostile terrain?
  • What alternatives exist when local resources fail?
A Different Perspective

Assumes local resources are sufficient, which may not hold.

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