Chance Quote by Carl von Clausewitz
“War is...a trinity of violence, chance, and reason.”
About This Quote
Source Book: On War by Carl von Clausewitz, 1832
War consists of three interlinked elements: violence, randomness, and rational planning.
In simple terms: War is violence, chance, and reason.
Key Takeaway
Recognize all three factors in conflict.
Themes
conflict
strategy
human nature
Mood
analytical
serious
Type
philosophical
strategic
When to use this quote
- military planning
- business competition
- political negotiations
Key Concepts
systems theory
probability
rationality
Questions to Reflect On
- How does chance affect your strategies?
- Can reason justify violence?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on rationality can ignore moral costs.
![“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)
