Army Quote by Thucydides
“By day certainly the combatants have a clearer notion, though even then by no means of all that takes place, no one knowing much of anything that does not does not go on in his own immediate neighborhood; but in a night engagement ( and this was the only one that occurred between great armies during the war) how could anyone know anything for certain?”
About This Quote
Source Historical Text: History of the Peloponnesian War, 5th century BC
In war, knowledge is limited to immediate surroundings; certainty is impossible, especially in night battles.
In simple terms: War limits reliable information.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty in conflict.
Themes
war
uncertainty
information
history
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
historical
strategic
When to use this quote
- military planning
- historical analysis
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
fog of war
human perception
strategic decisionmaking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do leaders act with limited info?
- What methods improve battlefield awareness?
A Different Perspective
Nighttime chaos reduces clarity.
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
