---
title: "1 Clausewitz Quotes By William H. McRaven"
description: "1 Clausewitz quotes by William H. McRaven. Plus more from William H. McRaven and more Clausewitz sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/596/william-h-mcraven-13570_clausewitz_a-successful-special-operation-defies-co_1478578.jpg"
---

> [“A successful special operation defies conventional wisdom by using a small force to defeat a much larger or well-entrenched opponent. This book develops a theory of special operations that explains why this phenomenon occurs. I will show that through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/a-successful-special-operation-defies-conventional-wisdom-by-using-a/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/596/william-h-mcraven-13570_clausewitz_a-successful-special-operation-defies-co_1478578.jpg)

## More by William H. McRaven

> [“By 2003, I found myself in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now that I was a one-star admiral leading troops in a war zone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/by-2003-i-found-myself-in-combat-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-now-that-i/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/if-you-want-to-change-the-world-start-off-by-making-your-bed/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [As ISIS begins to gain momentum beyond where they already are, it really does create - but you see the surge of refugees and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/as-isis-begins-to-gain-momentum-beyond-where-they-already-are-it/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [I am not running with Hillary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/i-am-not-running-with-hillary/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [“The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness: Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Stephen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/the-common-people-and-the-great-men-and-women-are-all-defined-by-how/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [ Following is one of the most underrated aspects of leadership… I have seen many a good \[military unit\] underachieve, because someone...thought the commander was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/following-is-one-of-the-most-underrated-aspects-of-leadership-i-have/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [“After the war, Manor returned to New York University and finished his degree in 1947. Later that year he became an instructor at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/after-the-war-manor-returned-to-new-york-university-and-finished-his/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [Petraeus is the finest general I have ever worked for; Holly Petraeus is a great American hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/petraeus-is-the-finest-general-i-have-ever-worked-for-holly-petraeus/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [Nighttime frequently increases alertness, and each mission should consider the ramifications of a night assault. Several of the most successful special operations were conducted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/nighttime-frequently-increases-alertness-and-each-mission-should/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [“for every failure, for every mistake, there were hundreds of successes: hostages rescued, suicide bombers stopped, pirates captured, terrorists killed, and countless lives saved.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/for-every-failure-for-every-mistake-there-were-hundreds-of-successes/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [“In life you will face a lot of Circuses. You will pay for your failures. But, if you persevere, if you let those failures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/in-life-you-will-face-a-lot-of-circuses-you-will-pay-for-your/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [“It is easy to blame your lot in life on some outside force, to stop trying because you believe fate is against you. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/it-is-easy-to-blame-your-lot-in-life-on-some-outside-force-to-stop/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [“You cannot paddle the boat alone. Find someone to share your life with. Make as many friends as possible, and never forget that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/you-cannot-paddle-the-boat-alone-find-someone-to-share-your-life-with/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [“Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. It was my first task of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/making-my-bed-correctly-was-not-going-to-be-an-opportunity-for-praise/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [I think ninjas are probably quieter than SEALs, but we are better swimmers, and also better with guns and blowing things up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/i-think-ninjas-are-probably-quieter-than-seals-but-we-are-better/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

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