--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you entrench yourself behind strong…" description: "\"If you entrench yourself behind strong fortifications, you compel the enemy seek a solution elsewhere.\" — Carl von Clausewitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_behinds_if-you-entrench-yourself-behind-strong-f_2312861.jpg" --- # If you entrench yourself behind strong fortifications, you… ![“If you entrench yourself behind strong fortifications, you compel the enemy seek a solution elsewhere.” quote by Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_behinds_if-you-entrench-yourself-behind-strong-f_2312861.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_behinds_if-you-entrench-yourself-behind-strong-f_2312861.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_behinds_if-you-entrench-yourself-behind-strong-f_2312861.jpg) > “If you entrench yourself behind strong fortifications, you compel the enemy seek a solution elsewhere.” [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strong defenses force opponents to find alternative tactics, often exposing their weaknesses. **In simple terms:** Fortifications make enemies look for other ways. Key Takeaway Use strong points to shape enemy actions. Themes strategy defense adaptation Mood strategic analytical Type military philosophical When to use this quote - military planning - business competition - cybersecurity - political negotiations Key Concepts military tactics psychology of conflict Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance defense with flexibility? - What alternatives can you create for the enemy? A Different Perspective Overreliance on defenses can make you predictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Fortification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortification/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) ## Related quotes > [Forts, arsenals, garrisons, armies, navies, are means of security and defence, which were invented in half-civilized times and in feudal or despotic countries; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/forts-arsenals-garrisons-armies-navies-are-means-of-security-and/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Schoolhouses are the republican line of fortifications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/schoolhouses-are-the-republican-line-of-fortifications/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [“But minds find ways to protect themselves, build fortifications, and some of those walls become traps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/but-minds-find-ways-to-protect-themselves-build-fortifications-and/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [“examining the fortifications to-day with BISMARCK, I lent”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/various/examining-the-fortifications-to-day-with-bismarck-i-lent/) Various > [“As they crossed the fifty yards which separated the two checkpoints, Leamas was dimly aware of the new fortifications on the Eastern side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/as-they-crossed-the-fifty-yards-which-separated-the-two-checkpoints/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [“The fortifications have never been attacked, nor has any sane man ever proposed any reason why they should be attacked. They have never defended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-fortifications-have-never-been-attacked-nor-has-any-sane-man-ever/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Our shipping and sea service is our best and safest defence as being the only fortification and rampart of England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/our-shipping-and-sea-service-is-our-best-and-safest-defence-as-being/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [I am not afraid of the priests in the long-run. Scientific method is the white ant which will slowly but surely destroy their fortifications.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/i-am-not-afraid-of-the-priests-in-the-long-run-scientific-method-is/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Those eyes, they've got a history with mine. They were the first things I saw when I came to, after being hit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/those-eyes-they-ve-got-a-history-with-mine-they-were-the-first-things/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Mussolini is quite humiliated because our troops have not moved a step forward. Even today they have not succeeded in advancing and have halted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galeazzo-ciano/mussolini-is-quite-humiliated-because-our-troops-have-not-moved-a/) [Galeazzo Ciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galeazzo-ciano/) > [An extensive empire must be supported by a refined system of policy and oppression; in the centre, an absolute power, prompt in action and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/an-extensive-empire-must-be-supported-by-a-refined-system-of-policy/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Sure! A relationship with the Almighty is not impossible. We must realize that one's approach to the Presence of Almighty Being, who is absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-atta-ullah-faizani/sure-a-relationship-with-the-almighty-is-not-impossible-we-must/) [Muhammad Atta-ullah Faizani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-atta-ullah-faizani/) > [Technically it was a victory for the British, who attacked the patriot fortifications but a Pyrrhic victory if ever there was: out of 2,200…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wheatcroft/technically-it-was-a-victory-for-the-british-who-attacked-the-patriot/) Geoffrey Wheatcroft > [Fortifications, artillery, foreign aid - will be of no value, unless the ordinary soldier knows that it is HE guarding his country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-gustaf-emil-mannerheim/fortifications-artillery-foreign-aid-will-be-of-no-value-unless-the/) Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim > [Regardless of what challenge you are facing right now, know that it has not come to stay. It has come to pass. During these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/regardless-of-what-challenge-you-are-facing-right-now-know-that-it/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) ## More by Carl von Clausewitz > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Politics is the womb in which war develops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/politics-is-the-womb-in-which-war-develops/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [ Rather than comparing \[war\] to art we could more accurately compare it to commerce, which is also a conflict of human interests and activities;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/rather-than-comparing-war-to-art-we-could-more-accurately-compare-it/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Savage peoples are ruled by passion, civilized peoples by the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/savage-peoples-are-ruled-by-passion-civilized-peoples-by-the-mind/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [After we have thought out everything carefully in advance and have sought and found without prejudice the most plausible plan, we must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/after-we-have-thought-out-everything-carefully-in-advance-and-have/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Intelligence alone is not courage, we often see that the most intelligent people are irresolute. Since in the rush of events a man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/intelligence-alone-is-not-courage-we-often-see-that-the-most/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [The great uncertainty of all data in war is because all action, to a certain extent, planned in a mere twilight - like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-great-uncertainty-of-all-data-in-war-is-because-all-action-to-a/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Self-reliance is the best defence against the pressures of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/self-reliance-is-the-best-defence-against-the-pressures-of-the-moment/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [War is the realm of uncertainty; three-quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/war-is-the-realm-of-uncertainty-three-quarters-of-the-factors-on/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [We repeat again: strength of character does not consist solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one’s balance in spite of them. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/we-repeat-again-strength-of-character-does-not-consist-solely-in/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [There is only one decisive victory: the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/there-is-only-one-decisive-victory-the-last/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [A conqueror is always a lover of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/a-conqueror-is-always-a-lover-of-peace/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [War is nothing but a continuation of politics with the admixture of other means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/war-is-nothing-but-a-continuation-of-politics-with-the-admixture-of/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [War is not merely a political act but a real political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse, a carrying out of the same by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/war-is-not-merely-a-political-act-but-a-real-political-instrument-a/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) [Explore all 181 Carl von Clausewitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you entrench yourself behind strong fortifications, you compel the enemy seek a solution elsewhere.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carl von Clausewitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/if-you-entrench-yourself-behind-strong-fortifications-you-compel-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behinds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/if-you-entrench-yourself-behind-strong-fortifications-you-compel-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_behinds_if-you-entrench-yourself-behind-strong-f_2312861.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_behinds_if-you-entrench-yourself-behind-strong-f_2312861.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_behinds_if-you-entrench-yourself-behind-strong-f_2312861.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you entrench yourself behind strong fortifications, you compel the enemy seek a solution elsewhere.” — Carl von Clausewitz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Carl von Clausewitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you entrench yourself behind strong...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/if-you-entrench-yourself-behind-strong-fortifications-you-compel-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/if-you-entrench-yourself-behind-strong-fortifications-you-compel-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```