Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst…
“Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Best leaders are often journalists, while generals are poor at war.
In simple terms: Good editors, bad generals.
Key Takeaway
Value editorial insight.
Themes
leadership
media
military
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- newsrooms
- military planning
Key Concepts
strategic communication
information bias
Questions to Reflect On
- Who should decide strategy?
- How to balance media and command?
A Different Perspective
Not all editors lack battlefield skill.