Strength Of Character Does Not Consist

Also from On War, this observation belongs to Clausewitz's discussion of the emotional demands placed on military commanders. He distinguishes between the man of violent passions, who burns bright but is easily unbalanced, and the man of true character, who feels strongly but maintains equilibrium. Clausewitz saw this balance — the capacity to hold powerful feelings without being mastered by them — as essential to sustained command performance, particularly during the prolonged stress and repeated reversal that characterize real campaigns.