Military history Quote by Antoine-Henri Jomini
““The celebrated maxim of the Romans, not to undertake two great wars at the same time, is so well known and so well appreciated as to spare the necessity of demonstrating its wisdom. A government maybe compelled to maintain a war against two neighboring states; but it will be extremely unfortunate if it does not find an ally to come to its aid, with a view to its own safety and the maintenance of the political equilibrium. It will seldom be the case that the nations allied against it will have the same interest in the war and will enter into it with all their resources; and if one is only an auxiliary, it will be an ordinary war.””
About This Quote
Source Treatise: The Art of War, 1838
Engaging in multiple major conflicts simultaneously strains resources and risks defeat; alliances can mitigate but rarely equalize effort.
In simple terms: Fighting two big wars at once is risky; allies help but aren’t enough.
Key Takeaway
Avoid overextension; seek balanced alliances.
Themes
strategy
politics
military
risk management
alliances
Mood
cautious
analytical
strategic
Type
historical
military
political
When to use this quote
- government war planning
- coalition building
- defense budgeting
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
balance of power
resource allocation
strategic depth
Questions to Reflect On
- Can a nation sustain two wars without a reliable partner?
- How do differing ally interests affect war outcomes?
A Different Perspective
Allies may have divergent goals, making coordination difficult.
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![“But it is almost impossible to communicate with them [one's spies in the enemy camp] and receive the information they possess ... Even when the general receives from his spies information of movements, he still knows nothing of those which may since have taken place, nor of what the enemy is going…” quote by Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c95/antoine-henri-jomini-41243_camps_but-it-is-almost-impossible-to-communica_1838617.jpg)
