Nine-tenths of tactics are certain, and taught in books: but the irrational tenth is like the kingfisher flashing across the pool, and that is the test of generals.

We had deluded ourselves that perhaps peace might find the Arabs able, unhelped and untaught, to defend themselves with paper tools. Meanwhile we glozed our fraud by conducting their necessary war purely and cheaply. But now this gloss had gone from me. Chargeable against my conceit were the causeless, ineffectual deaths of Hesa. My will had gone and I feared to be alone, lest the winds of circumstance, or power, or lust, blow my empty soul away.

To expect defeat is nine-tenths of defeat itself.

Possession isn't nine-tenths of the law. It's nine-tenths of the problem.

Nine-tenths of wisdom is being wise in time.

I think that one possible definition of our modern culture is that it is one in which nine-tenths of our intellectuals can't read any poetry