Line of Control

by Mainak Dhar

The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

`And if you would know God, be not therefore a solver of riddles. Rather look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children.'

News is the first rough draft of history. - Ben Bradlee

It is from the character of our adversary's position that we can draw conclusions as to his designs and will therefore act accordingly. - Karl Von Clausewitz, On War

His large library included most of the military classics ranging from Von Clausewitz's On War and Sun Tzu, to the latest editions of the Jane's series.

Without harmony in the state, no military expedition can be undertaken. - Sun Tzu

Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. - Sun Tzu

The statesman who, seeing war is inevitable, hesitates to strike first is guilty of a crime against his country. - Karl Von Clausewitz

When the flag is unfurled in battle, all reason is in the trumpet. - Ukrainian proverb

Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, Nor public men, nor cheering crowds, A lonely impulse of delight, Drove to this tumult in the clouds. - W.B.Yeats, An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

the only thing that really drove a man to feats of valor was the desire to protect his buddies, irrespective of religion or caste.

`Always remember, you’re a Jawan first, Hindu or Muslim second.’

That general is skilled in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend. - Sun Tzu

The enemy advances, we retreat. The enemy camps, we harass. The enemy tires, we attack. - Mao Tse Tung

If fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight, even at the ruler's bidding. - Sun Tzu

If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in. - Sun Tzu

He who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of Heaven. - Sun Tzu

you can't live with the ghosts of the past forever. You have to put them behind you. And the best way to do that is to confront your fears head on, and not try and hide from them. You can't go through life always proving to yourself that you have it in you. You don't need to prove anything to anyone. The moment you have convinced yourself, the battle's won.'

Let us not hear of generals who conquer without bloodshed. If a bloody slaughter is a horrible sight, then it is ground for paying more respect to war. - Karl Von Clausewitz

the papers will call this a victory. I've lost six men- men I've lived and trained with for years. Six families will receive a badly typed letter informing them that their sons will never come home. I imagine there will be many such letters on both sides before this ends.'

`Now you know why the soldier is the last guy to want war- because we train to become so damn good at it.'

It is often that way with your closest friends, you take their presence almost for granted till you are faced with the prospect of losing them.

I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do. - Eleanor Roosevelt

Justice without force is powerless, force without justice is tyrannical. - Blaise Pascal

There are no warlike peoples- just warlike leaders. - Ralph Burke

The way to win an atomic war is to make certain it never happens. - Gen. Omar Bradley

What the scientists have in their briefcases is terrifying. - Nikita Khrushchev

Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed. - Irene Peter

No man is born with a stamp on his head saying soldier or politician. You are what you make yourself.

Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious. - Oscar Wilde