It therefore turns to experience, and directs its attention on those combinations which military history can furnish.

In this manner, no doubt, nothing more than a limited theory can be obtained, which only suits circumstances such as are presented in history.

But this incompleteness is unavoidable, because in any case theory must either have deduced from, or have compared with, history what it advances with respect to things.

Besides, this incompleteness in every case is more theoretical than real.
One great advantage of this method is that theory cannot lose itself in abstruse disquisitions, subtleties, and chimeras, but must always remain practical.
38.

HOW FAR THE ANALYSIS OF THE MEANS SHOULD BE CARRIED.
Another question is, How far should theory go in its analysis of the means?
Evidently only so far as the elements in a separate form present themselves for consideration in practice.