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Clausewitz Quote by Sebastian Gorka

“Clausewitz’s posthumously published work On War, shaped by the age of Napoleonic warfare, is best known for the concept of the friction and the fog of war and the “Clausewitzian dictum” that war is but the continuation of politics by other means. Clausewitz is still taught at military academies…” quote by Sebastian Gorka
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““Clausewitz’s posthumously published work On War, shaped by the age of Napoleonic warfare, is best known for the concept of the friction and the fog of war and the “Clausewitzian dictum” that war is but the continuation of politics by other means. Clausewitz is still taught at military academies and war colleges across the globe, and his theories continue to inform how military men and women think about war in the twenty-first century.””

Sebastian Gorka

About This Quote

Source Book: Clausewitz on War, 2020

Clausewitz’s ideas on friction, fog of war, and war as politics by other means shape modern military thinking.

In simple terms: War is messy, uncertain, and political.

Key Takeaway

Study the interplay of politics and conflict.

Themes

military strategy politics history

Mood

analytical reflective

Type

historical strategic

When to use this quote

  • military education
  • strategic planning
  • conflict analysis
  • policy advising

Key Concepts

friction fog of war political theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does modern technology alter Clausewitz’s concepts?
  • Can political objectives be separated from military means?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on theory can overlook technological changes in warfare.

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