--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mentality of an army on the march is…" description: "\"The mentality of an army on the march is merely so much delayed adolescence; it remains persistently, incorrigibly and notoriously infantile.\" — Albert..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/albert-j-nock-9816_adolescence_the-mentality-of-an-army-on-the-march-is_2680140.jpg" --- # The mentality of an army on the march is merely so much… ![“The mentality of an army on the march is merely so much delayed adolescence; it remains persistently, incorrigibly and notoriously infantile.” quote by Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/albert-j-nock-9816_adolescence_the-mentality-of-an-army-on-the-march-is_2680140.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/albert-j-nock-9816_adolescence_the-mentality-of-an-army-on-the-march-is_2680140.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e62/albert-j-nock-9816_adolescence_the-mentality-of-an-army-on-the-march-is_2680140.jpg) > “The mentality of an army on the march is merely so much delayed adolescence; it remains persistently, incorrigibly and notoriously infantile.” [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Military life mirrors delayed adolescence, remaining immature and resistant to growth. **In simple terms:** Army culture is immature and stagnant. Key Takeaway Encourage maturity and reform in institutions. Themes military adolescence culture Mood critical reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - leadership training - organizational change - policy reform Key Concepts institutional stagnation psychology of groups Questions to Reflect On - How does institutional culture affect growth? - What reforms foster maturity? A Different Perspective May generalize all forces. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adolescence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adolescence/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Mentality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentality/) ## Related quotes > [“What season?” I asked. “A delayed adolescence, I guess. When I get up in the morning and see my face in the mirror, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/what-season-i-asked-a-delayed-adolescence-i-guess-when-i-get-up-in/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I went through this delayed-adolescence thing. I didn't want to be tied down to a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-quaid/i-went-through-this-delayed-adolescence-thing-i-didn-t-want-to-be/) [Randy Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-quaid/) > [The reason there are so many tree-lined boulevards in Paris is so the German army can march in the shade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-reason-there-are-so-many-tree-lined-boulevards-in-paris-is-so-the/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [“We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country -- its mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/we-are-not-fit-to-lead-an-army-on-the-march-unless-we-are-familiar/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [My heart was beating like an army on the march.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/my-heart-was-beating-like-an-army-on-the-march/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors. We are not fit to lead an army on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/we-cannot-enter-into-alliances-until-we-are-acquainted-with-the/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [We are each an army of one. March forward with your army, never let go of your future and never listen to idiots who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/we-are-each-an-army-of-one-march-forward-with-your-army-never-let-go/) [Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/) > [“The Lancastrian army had been on the march for fully fifteen hours, had managed to cover twenty-four miles in that dash for the Severn.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/the-lancastrian-army-had-been-on-the-march-for-fully-fifteen-hours/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [We cannot enter into alliance with neighbouring princes until we are acquainted with their designs. We are not fit to lead an army on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/we-cannot-enter-into-alliance-with-neighbouring-princes-until-we-are/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Maybe every other American movie shouldn't be based on a comic book. Other countries will think Americans live in an infantile fantasy land where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/maybe-every-other-american-movie-shouldn-t-be-based-on-a-comic-book/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [The American ideal of sexuality appears to be rooted in the American ideal of masculinity. This idea has created cowboys and Indians, good guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/the-american-ideal-of-sexuality-appears-to-be-rooted-in-the-american/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [In politics continental Europe was infantile - horrifying. What America lacked, for all its political stability, was the capacity to enjoy intellectual pleasures as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/in-politics-continental-europe-was-infantile-horrifying-what-america/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“If every day is first day of your life, maybe you are being perpetually infantile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trixie-koontz/if-every-day-is-first-day-of-your-life-maybe-you-are-being/) Trixie Koontz > [Naturalism aimed at giving the primitive wishes full play but failed because these wishes are too primitive, too infantile, too inconsistent with themselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-desmond-bernal/naturalism-aimed-at-giving-the-primitive-wishes-full-play-but-failed/) [John Desmond Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-desmond-bernal/) > [The steadily inward look leads us all to death, nations as well as persons, and is equally infantile in them all. Perhaps the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-wilson/the-steadily-inward-look-leads-us-all-to-death-nations-as-well-as/) [Margery Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-wilson/) ## More by Albert J. Nock > [The State, on the other hand, both in its genesis and by its primary intention, is purely anti-social. It is not based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-state-on-the-other-hand-both-in-its-genesis-and-by-its-primary/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [When we speak freely, let us speak plainly, for plain speech is wholesome; especially, plain speech about public affairs and public men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/when-we-speak-freely-let-us-speak-plainly-for-plain-speech-is/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The practical reason for freedom is that freedom seems to be the only condition under which any kind of substantial moral fiber can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-practical-reason-for-freedom-is-that-freedom-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Like all predatory or parasitic institutions, its first instinct is that of self-preservation. All its enterprises are directed first towards preserving its own life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/like-all-predatory-or-parasitic-institutions-its-first-instinct-is/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The simple truth is that our businessmen do not want a government that will let business alone. They want a government they can use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-simple-truth-is-that-our-businessmen-do-not-want-a-government/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Above all things the mass-mind is most bitterly resentful of superiority. It will not tolerate the thought of an elite; and under a political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/above-all-things-the-mass-mind-is-most-bitterly-resentful-of/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [By consequence I hold that no one ever did, or can do, anything for "society."... Comte invented the term altruism as an antonym for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/by-consequence-i-hold-that-no-one-ever-did-or-can-do-anything-for/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [It is certainly true that whatever a man may do or say, the most significant thing about him is what he thinks; and significant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/it-is-certainly-true-that-whatever-a-man-may-do-or-say-the-most/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The positive testimony of history is that the State invariably had its origin in conquest and confiscation. No primitive State known to history originated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-positive-testimony-of-history-is-that-the-state-invariably-had/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Instead of recognizing the State as ‘the common enemy of all well-disposed, industrious and decent men,’ the run of mankind, with rare exceptions, regards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/instead-of-recognizing-the-state-as-the-common-enemy-of-all-well-2/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [There are two methods, or means, and only two, whereby man's needs and desires can be satisfied. One is the production and exchange of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/there-are-two-methods-or-means-and-only-two-whereby-man-s-needs-and/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Personal publicity of every kind is utterly distasteful to me, and I have made greater efforts to escape it than most people make to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/personal-publicity-of-every-kind-is-utterly-distasteful-to-me-and-i/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [It is interesting to observe that in the year 1935 the average individual's incurious attitude towards the phenomenon of the State is precisely what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/it-is-interesting-to-observe-that-in-the-year-1935-the-average/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [I am said to be difficult of acquaintance, unwilling to meet any one half way, and showing a social manner which is easy, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/i-am-said-to-be-difficult-of-acquaintance-unwilling-to-meet-any-one/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The question of who is right and who is wrong has seemed to me always too small to be worth a moment's thought, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-question-of-who-is-right-and-who-is-wrong-has-seemed-to-me-always/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) [Explore all 70 Albert J. Nock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) ## More Adolescence quotes > [They must move from a psychological state of victimization to a psychological state of accepting responsibility. The Palestinians must leave behind their revolutionary adolescence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shavit/they-must-move-from-a-psychological-state-of-victimization-to-a/) [Ari Shavit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shavit/) > [Having children truly ends adolescence. We are all either parents or children: responsibility-takers or those who demand from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/having-children-truly-ends-adolescence-we-are-all-either-parents-or/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [Teenage girls are extremists who see the world in black-and- white terms, missing shades of gray. Life is either marvelous or notworth living. School…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pipher/teenage-girls-are-extremists-who-see-the-world-in-black-and-white/) [Mary Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pipher/) > [Teenagers complain there's nothing to do, then stay out all night doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-phillips/teenagers-complain-there-s-nothing-to-do-then-stay-out-all-night/) [Bob Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-phillips/) > [The idols of one's adolescence tend to endure - you never forget how you worshipped them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-idols-of-one-s-adolescence-tend-to-endure-you-never-forget-how/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Being an adult is the ability to postpone a want for the sake of a family need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/being-an-adult-is-the-ability-to-postpone-a-want-for-the-sake-of-a/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [The donning of the ear buds marks the beginning of teen life, when children set off on their own for the passage through adolescence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/the-donning-of-the-ear-buds-marks-the-beginning-of-teen-life-when/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [Adolescence is when the very worst and best impulses in the human soul struggle against each other for possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/adolescence-is-when-the-very-worst-and-best-impulses-in-the-human/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [Most adults would not dream of belittling, humiliating, or bullying (verbally or physically) another adult. But many of the same adults think nothing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/most-adults-would-not-dream-of-belittling-humiliating-or-bullying/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [If you can't count, they can cheat you. If you can't read, they can beat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/if-you-can-t-count-they-can-cheat-you-if-you-can-t-read-they-can-beat/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“He'd possessed all the key elements of a school shooter: hormones, misery, ammunition. People wondered how something like Columbine could happen. Jude wondered why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/he-d-possessed-all-the-key-elements-of-a-school-shooter-hormones/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [ I remember realizing, when I did Little Women \[1994\], that that was the only time girls that age were being written about. It was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-remember-realizing-when-i-did-little-women-1994-that-that-was-the/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [Content without style is propaganda or adolescence. Style without content is decadence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/content-without-style-is-propaganda-or-adolescence-style-without/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Adolescence is interesting. I mean, all of life is interesting and all of life is transitionary. But I think there is an exponential growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-henson/adolescence-is-interesting-i-mean-all-of-life-is-interesting-and-all/) [Bill Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-henson/) > [“Yet GenX'er teens didn't slow down--they were just as likely to drive, drink alcohol, and date as their Boomer peers and more likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/yet-genx-er-teens-didn-t-slow-down-they-were-just-as-likely-to-drive/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) [Browse all 787 Adolescence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adolescence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The mentality of an army on the march is merely so much delayed adolescence; it remains persistently, incorrigibly and notoriously infantile.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert J. 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