Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

4 '* ACTION, ACTION, ACTION!'*peril. For the great captain they vary as the conditionsvary. The man who can rise superior to mere rules, andsucceed, has always a spark of genius. But as these maximsare, like those of the common law, nothing but a statementof what is the highest common sense, the genius who makesexceptions to them does so because the circumstances warrantthe exception, or because he feels that he can control circumstances.The great captain will never permit mere rides totie his hands ; but his action will always be in general, if notspecific, accordance with them.The one thing which distinguishesthe great captains of history from the rank and fileof commanders is that they have known when to disregardmaxims, and that they have succeeded while disregardingthem, and because of their disregard of them. But in allcases their successes have proved the rule.The first requisite of oratory, said Demosthenes, is actionthe second, action ; the third, action. In this generation ofconversational speeches the saying is less applicable to oratorythan to strategy and tactics. It is the general who canthink rapidly and move rapidly ;who can originate correctlines of manoeuvre, and unceasingly and skillfully followthem, who becomes great.The few instances of Fabian tacticsare but the complement to this rule. They prove itstruth. Fabius Maximus was in one sense as active as Hannibal.It was mainly in the avoidance of armed conflict thathe differed from the great Carthaginian. How, indeed, couldhe follow each movement of hiswonderful antagonist, — ashe did, — unless his every faculty was in constant action ?Incessant action is not of necessity unceasing motion ; it ismotion in the right direction at the right moment ; though,indeed, it is the legs of an army, as much as its stomach, whichenable the brain tissue and throbbing blood of the captainto conduct a successful campaign or win a pitched battle.