Frederick's resource logic for limited war

Frederick initially wanted wars to be short because prolonged campaigns consumed both soldiers and Prussia's limited resources. His seizure of Silesia made battle look like a wager that could settle disputes between sovereigns who recognized no higher tribunal. Experience made him more wary of chance and more willing to accumulate small gains instead of seeking one decisive encounter. His oblique order used a disciplined force to concentrate against an enemy flank while avoiding engagement on its own weak flank, preserving the option of an orderly retreat if the maneuver failed. He also avoided campaigning too far from his borders and did not assume that victory required destroying the opposing army. State capacity, geography, and risk tolerance shape the kind of decision a commander seeks.