I have written a number of Tactical Memorandums (TACMEMOs, in military-speak) and some doctrinal publications for the Navy. Whenever I get the chance, I begin a new chapter with a military quote. Most of my contemporaries use fairly recent quotes from prominent 19th and 20th Century military personalities. I like to dig back further in time...my chapters tend to get quotes from Polybius, Vegetius, Flavius Josephus and Homer (not Bart's dad, the other guy...)

Anyway…here are a couple of my favorites:

“The Romans are certain of victory…because their exercises are battles without bloodshed, and their battles bloody exercises.”
---Flavius Josephus, The Jewish War

We’re currently preparing for a major war game here in the Pacific. I’ve used this quote in my publications, and I’ve used it on briefing slides prepared for flag officers. Our exercises are detailed, difficult and realistic…and a lot of hard work. It’s no wonder that the unofficial slogan of our current exercise is “The war is simulated. The pain is real.” But, just like the ancient and noble Romans, this preparation via large-scale military exercise makes us the best in the world.

"They sailed along the coast, landed at a number of places where they accomplished nothing of importance."
--Polybius, The First Punic War

I love this quote! It reminds me so very much of the many months (years, actually) which I have spent at sea. So many months of (apparantly) accomplishing "nothing of importance," but then, every so often, you get to be involved in something really big, important, and sometimes even historical! It’s a great little quote, always good for a chuckle when placed in an after action report.