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The first effect of fire is to dissolve all appearances of order.

— S.L.A. Marshall Men Against Fire: The Problem of Battle Command (1947)

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More quotes by S.L.A. Marshall

We are reluctant to admit that essentially war is the business of killing, though that is the simplest truth in the book.

Men Against Fire: The Problem of Battle Command (1947)

Undue emphasis on conservation is as great a danger to fire power as is an excess expenditure of ammunition.

Men Against Fire: The Problem of Battle Command (1947)

War must always start with imperfect instruments.

Men Against Fire: The Problem of Battle Command (1947)

The enemy, no more willing to be shot than was his opponent, was rarely seen, only fleetingly if at all.

Men Against Fire: The Problem of Battle Command (1947)

Truly then, it is killing men with kindness not to insist upon physical standards during training which will give them maximum fitness for the extraordinary stresses of campaigning in war.

Men Against Fire: The Problem of Battle Command (1947)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: S.L.A. Marshall (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.