iron out many creases in the heads of strategists and statesmen, and at
least to show the object of action, and the real point to be considered
in War.

Now, when I have brought my ideas clearly out by finishing this eighth
book, and have properly established the leading features of War, it will
be easier for me to carry the spirit of these ideas in to the first
six books, and to make these same features show themselves everywhere.
Therefore I shall defer till then the revision of the first six books.

Should the work be interrupted by my death, then what is found can only
be called a mass of conceptions not brought into form; but as these
are open to endless misconceptions, they will doubtless give rise to a
number of crude criticisms: for in these things, every one thinks, when
he takes up his pen, that whatever comes into his head is worth saying
and printing, and quite as incontrovertible as that twice two make four.
If such a one would take the pains, as I have done, to think over the
subject, for years, and to compare his ideas with military history, he
would certainly be a little more guarded in his criticism.

Still, notwithstanding this imperfect form, I believe that an impartial
reader thirsting for truth and conviction will rightly appreciate in the
first six books the fruits of several years' reflection and a diligent
study of War, and that, perhaps, he will find in them some leading ideas
which may bring about a revolution in the theory of War.

Berlin, 10th July, 1827.


Besides this notice, amongst the papers left the following unfinished