--- title: "4 Commanders Quotes By B. H. Liddell Hart" description: "4 Commanders quotes by B. H. Liddell Hart. Plus more from B. H. Liddell Hart and more Commanders sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/b-h-liddell-hart-9275_affection_a-commander-should-have-a-profound-under_1350867.jpg" --- > [A commander should have a profound understanding of human nature, the knack of smoothing out troubles, the power of winning affection while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/a-commander-should-have-a-profound-understanding-of-human-nature-the/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/b-h-liddell-hart-9275_affection_a-commander-should-have-a-profound-under_1350867.jpg) > [With growing experience, all skillful commanders sought to profit by the power of the defensive, even when on the offensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/with-growing-experience-all-skillful-commanders-sought-to-profit-by/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/b-h-liddell-hart-9275_commanders_with-growing-experience-all-skillful-com_2080080.png) > [The most consistently successful commanders, when faced by an enemy in a position that was strong naturally or materially, have hardly ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-most-consistently-successful-commanders-when-faced-by-an-enemy-in/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/b-h-liddell-hart-9275_circumstances_the-most-consistently-successful-command_2461507.png) > [The profoundest truth of war is that the issue of battle is usually decided in the minds of the opposing commanders, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-profoundest-truth-of-war-is-that-the-issue-of-battle-is-usually/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/b-h-liddell-hart-9275_battle_the-profoundest-truth-of-war-is-that-the_3144592.png) ## Other authors on Commanders - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b010/author-george-w-bush-38036.jpg) George W. Bush 11 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/george-w-bush/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b005/author-barack-obama-16275.jpg) Barack Obama 11 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/barack-obama/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b023/author-ted-cruz-89212.jpg) Ted Cruz 9 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/ted-cruz/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b011/author-hillary-clinton-42043.jpg) Hillary Clinton 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/hillary-clinton/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b016/author-lindsey-graham-60555.jpg) Lindsey Graham 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/lindsey-graham/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b018/author-napoleon-bonaparte-70192.jpg) Napoleon Bonaparte 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/napoleon-bonaparte/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b009/author-erwin-rommel-33935.jpg) Erwin Rommel 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/erwin-rommel/) ## More by B. H. Liddell Hart > [The downfall of civilized states tends to come not from the direct assaults of foes, but from internal decay combined with the consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-downfall-of-civilized-states-tends-to-come-not-from-the-direct/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [The implied threat of using nuclear weapons to curb guerrillas was as absurd as to talk of using a sledge hammer to ward off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-implied-threat-of-using-nuclear-weapons-to-curb-guerrillas-was-as/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [In war the chief incalculable is the human will, which manifests itself in resistance, which in turn lies in the province of tactics. Strategy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/in-war-the-chief-incalculable-is-the-human-will-which-manifests/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [If you want peace, understand war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/if-you-want-peace-understand-war/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [In a campaign against more than one state or army, it is more fruitful to concentrate first against the weaker partner than to attempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/in-a-campaign-against-more-than-one-state-or-army-it-is-more-fruitful/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [I used to think that the causes of war were predominantly economic. I came to think that they were more psychological. I am now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/i-used-to-think-that-the-causes-of-war-were-predominantly-economic-i/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [While the nominal strength of a country is represented by its numbers and resources, this muscular development is dependent on the state of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/while-the-nominal-strength-of-a-country-is-represented-by-its-numbers/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [If we clear the air of the fog of catchwords which surround the conduct of war, and grasp that in the human will lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/if-we-clear-the-air-of-the-fog-of-catchwords-which-surround-the/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [The unexpected cannot guarantee success, but it guarantees the best chance of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-unexpected-cannot-guarantee-success-but-it-guarantees-the-best/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [Guerrilla war is a kind of war waged by the few but dependent on the support of many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/guerrilla-war-is-a-kind-of-war-waged-by-the-few-but-dependent-on-the/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [The art of the indirect approach can only be mastered, and its full scope appreciated, by study of and reflection upon the whole history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-art-of-the-indirect-approach-can-only-be-mastered-and-its-full/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [It is only to clear from history that states rarely keep faith with each other, save in so far (and so long) as their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/it-is-only-to-clear-from-history-that-states-rarely-keep-faith-with/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [The most dangerous error is failure to recognize our own tendency to error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-most-dangerous-error-is-failure-to-recognize-our-own-tendency-to/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [The effect to be sought is the dislocation of the opponent's mind and dispositions - such an effect is the true gauge of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-effect-to-be-sought-is-the-dislocation-of-the-opponent-s-mind-and/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [Helplessness induces hopelessness, and history attests that loss of hope and not loss of lives is what decides the issue of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/helplessness-induces-hopelessness-and-history-attests-that-loss-of/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/b-h-liddell-hart/#itemlist", "name": "4 Commanders Quotes By B. H. Liddell Hart", "numberOfItems": 4, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A commander should have a profound understanding of human nature, the knack of smoothing out troubles, the power of winning affection while communicating energy, and the capacity for ruthless determination where require by circumstances. He needs to generate an electrifying current, and to keep a cool head in applying it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "B. H. 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