"The idea that a war can be won by standing on the defensive and waiting for the enemy to attack is a dangerous fallacy, which owes its inception to the desire to evade the price of victory"

Douglas Haig was a British military leader who served as the commander of the British Expeditionary Force during World War I. The quote in question reflects Haig's belief that a defensive strategy in warfare is ultimately ineffective and that the best way to achieve victory is to take an aggressive approach and actively engage the enemy.

Haig's views were influenced by the experiences of World War I, during which he saw firsthand the devastating effects of trench warfare and the stalemate that it created. Rather than simply waiting for the enemy to attack, Haig believed that it was necessary to take the fight to the enemy and to be proactive in seeking out and engaging them.

Haig's belief in the importance of offensive tactics was controversial at the time, as many other military leaders favored a defensive approach to warfare. However, he remained committed to his belief in the value of aggressive tactics throughout the war, and his leadership played a significant role in the eventual victory of the Allied powers.