# Quote — Carl von Clausewitz, On War

> A conqueror is always a lover of peace (as Bonaparte always asserted of himself); he would like to make his entry into our state unopposed; in order to prevent this, we must choose war, and therefore also make preparations, that is in other words, it is just the weak, or that side which must defend itself, which should be always armed in order not to be taken by surprise; so it is willed by the art of war. (Original German: "Der Eroberer ist immer friedliebend (wie Bonaparte auch stets behauptet hat), er zöge ganz gern ruhig in unseren Staat ein; damit er dies aber nicht könne, darum müssen wir den Krieg wollen und also auch vorbereiten, d. h. mit anderen Worten: es sollen gerade die Schwachen, der Verteidigung Unterworfenen, immer gerüstet sein und nicht überfallen werden; so will es die Kriegskunst.")

- Author: [Carl von Clausewitz](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz.md)
- Book: [On War](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz/on-war.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Carl_von_Clausewitz#Book_6) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz/on-war/a-conqueror-is-always

## More from this book

> Strength of character does not consist solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one’s balance in spite of them. Even with the violence of emotion, judgment and principle must still function like a ship’s compass, which records the slightest variations however rough the sea.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz/on-war/strength-of-character.md)

> War therefore is an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz/on-war/war-therefore-is-an-act.md)

> War is merely the continuation of policy by other means.
>
> We see, therefore, that war is not merely an act of policy but a true political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse carried on with other means. What remains peculiar to war is simply the peculiar nature of its means.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-von-clausewitz/on-war/war-is-merely.md)