An Army is a collection of armed men obliged to obey one man. Every change in the rules which impairs the principle weakens the army.
William Tecumseh ShermanRead
An army is a collection of armed men obliged to obey one man. Every enactment, every change of rule which impairs this principle weakens the army, impairs its value, and defeats the very object of its existence.
Interpretation
What this quote means
An army's effectiveness relies on its structure and obedience to a single leader.
This quote by William Tecumseh Sherman emphasizes the importance of unity and discipline within a military context. It suggests that the strength of an army comes from its organization under a single command, and any deviation from this principle can lead to a loss of effectiveness and purpose.
Themes
ArmyLeadershipObedienceUnityDiscipline
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a leadership seminar to illustrate the importance of unity in team dynamics.
More from William Tecumseh Sherman
All quotes →Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster.
William Tecumseh ShermanRead
I think I understand what military fame is; to be killed on the field of battle and have your name misspelled in the newspapers.
William Tecumseh ShermanRead
The young bloods of the South: sons of planters, lawyers about towns, good billiard-players and sportsmen, men who never did any work and never will... They are splendid riders, first-rate shots and utterly reckless. These men must all be killed or employed by us before we can hope for peace.
William Tecumseh ShermanRead
You people of the South don't know what you are doing. This country will be drenched in blood, and God only knows how it will end. It is all folly, madness, a crime against civilization! You people speak so lightly of war; you don't know what you're talking about.
William Tecumseh ShermanRead
War is too serious a matter to leave to soldiers.
William Tecumseh ShermanRead
Similar quotes
I will only hire someone to work directly for me if I would work for that person. It's a pretty good test.
Mark ZuckerbergRead
The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. God loves us, not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God has created and redeemed us in love.
Henri NouwenRead
If something can be done 80% as well by someone else, delegate!
John C. MaxwellRead
Members of trusting teams admit weaknesses and mistakes, take risks in offering feedback and assistance, and focus time and energy on important issues, not politics.
Patrick LencioniRead
Authority is not a quality one person 'has,' in the sense that he has property or physical qualities. Authority refers to an interpersonal relation in which one person looks upon another as somebody superior to him.
Erich FrommRead
What leaders have to remember is that somewhere under the somnolent surface is the creature that builds civilizations, the dreamer of dreams, the risk taker. And remembering that, the leader must reach down to the springs that never dry up, the ever-fresh springs of the human spirit.
John W. GardnerRead