Bases Quote by Carl von Clausewitz
![“If we consider the actual basis of this information [i.e., intelligence], how unreliable and transient it is, we soon realize that war is a flimsy structure that can easily collapse and bury us in its ruins. ... Many intelligence reports in war are contradictory; even more are false, and most are…” quote by Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c6/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_bases_if-we-consider-the-actual-basis-of-this_1315760.jpg)
“If we consider the actual basis of this information [i.e., intelligence], how unreliable and transient it is, we soon realize that war is a flimsy structure that can easily collapse and bury us in its ruins. ... Many intelligence reports in war are contradictory; even more are false, and most are uncertain. This is true of all intelligence but even more so in the heat of battle, where such reports tend to contradict and cancel each other out. In short, most intelligence is false, and the effect of fear is to multiply lies and inaccuracies.”
About This Quote
Source Book: On War, Carl von Clausewitz, 1832
Intelligence in war is unreliable; fear amplifies errors, making war a fragile construct.
In simple terms: War intelligence is shaky; fear spreads falsehoods.
Key Takeaway
Question information sources critically.
Themes
war
intelligence
fear
uncertainty
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
strategic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- military planning
- policy making
- media reporting
Key Concepts
strategic analysis
human psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders mitigate fear‑driven misinformation?
- What safeguards improve intelligence reliability?
A Different Perspective
Intelligence can be vital; dismissing it entirely may hinder decision‑making.
![“Rather than comparing [war] to art we could more accurately compare it to commerce, which is also a conflict of human interests and activities; and it is still closer to politics, which in turn may be considered as a kind of commerce on a larger scale.” quote by Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c35/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_activity_rather-than-comparing-war-to-art-we-coul_21236.jpg)
