Prince Eugene used to say that councils of war “are only useful when
you want an excuse for attempting _nothing_.” This was also the opinion
of Villars. A general-in-chief should avoid, therefore, assembling
a council on occasions of difficulty, and should confine himself to
consulting separately his most experienced generals in order to benefit
by their advice, while he is governed at the same time in his decision
by his own judgment. By this means, he becomes responsible, it is true,
for the measures he pursues; but he has the advantage also of acting
upon his own conviction, and of being certain that the secret of his
operations will not be divulged, as is usually the case where it is
discussed by a council of war.