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2016 Eight Maxims of Strategy From Sir Basil H. Liddell -Hart Fred Nickols L IDDELL -H ART ’S E IGHT M A X IMS OF S TRATEGY © Fred Nickols 2016 Page 1 These eight maxims of strategy are drawn from Chapter XX (pp. 348 - 349) of Sir Basil H. Liddell -Hart's book, Strategy (2nd Edition Revised). Frederick A. Praeger, Publisher: New York (1968). 1. AD J U S T Y O U R E N D T O Y O U R M E A N S Clear sight and cool calculation s hould prevail. Do not bite off more than you can chew. Keep a clear sense of what is possible. Face facts while preserving faith. Confidence will be of no avail if the troops are run down. 2. KE E P Y O U R O B J E C T A L W A Y S I N M I N D , W H I L E A D A P T I N G Y O U R P L A N T O C I R C U M S T A N C E S Recognize that alternatives exist but make sure they all bear on the object. Weigh the feasibility of attaining an objective against its co n- tribution to the a ttainment of the end in mind. 3. CH O O S E T H E L I N E (O R C O U R S E ) O F L E A S T E X P E C T AT I O N Put yoursel f in your opposition’s shoes and try to see what course of action he will see as least probable and thus not try to forestall. 4. EX P L O I T T H E L I N E O F L E A S T R E S I S T A N C E – S O L O N G A S I T C A N L E A D Y O U T O A N Y O B J E C T I V E T H A T W O U L D C O N T R I BU T E T O Y O U R U N D E R L Y I N G O BJ E C T Seize on opportunity – but not any opportunity. Tactically, this r e- fers to following up on success; strategically, it refers to the ma n- agement and deployment of your reserves. 5. TA K E A L I N E O F O P E R A T I O N W H I C H O F F E R S A L T E R N A T I V E O B- J E C T I V E S Choose a single course of action that could have several obje ctives; do not let your actions reveal your objectives. This puts your opp o- nent on the horns of a dilemma. It introduces unce rtainty regarding that which is to be guarded against. 6. EN S U R E T H A T B O T H P L A N S A N D D I S P O S I T I O N S A R E F L E X IB L E – A D A P T A B L E T O C I R C U M S T A N C E S Include contingencies or next steps – for success as well as failure. Organize and deploy your resources in ways that facilitate adapt a- tion to either. 7. DO N O T T H R O W Y O U R W E I G H T I N T O A S T R O K E W H I L S T Y O U R OP P O N E N T I S O N G U A R D – W H I L S T H E I S W E L L P L A C E D T O P A R R Y O R E V A D E I T Unless your opponent is much inferior, do not attack until he has been disorganized and demoralized. Psychological warfare pr e- L IDDELL -H ART ’S E IGHT M A X IMS OF S TRATEGY © Fred Nickols 2016 Page 2 cedes physical warfare. Similarly, physical warfare can be ps ych o- logical in nature. 8. DO N O T R E N E W A N A T T A C K A L O N G T H E S A M E L I N E (O R I N T H E S A M E F O R M ) AF T E R I T H A S O N C E F A I L ED If at first you don’t succeed, give up. Your reinforcements will likely be matched by the enemy. Moreover, successfully repul sing you the first time will morally strengthen him for the se cond time . CO N T A C T FR E D N I C K O L S Fred Nickols can be reached at this e-mail . Other articles about strat e- gy, strategic planning, strategic thinking and strategic decision -ma king can be found in that section of his web site .