Moral ascendancy

Moral ascendancy is the influence one individual or group of individuals may hold over others through his perceived morals and character. In law and order, commanding officers require this moral force to be able to exert control over those they lead. In military situations, this moral ascendancy can extend to "I am the better army...I dominate you by my morale, training, capability". Militarily moral ascendancy then is something to be gained and retained to achieve supremacy against the enemy. According to the French army officer Du piq, "Moral force is the trump card for any military event because as events change the human elements of war remain unchanged".