Accurate Quote by Antoine-Henri Jomini
“The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one it becomes necessary to have an accurate knowledge of the enemy's camp.”
About This Quote
Surprising an enemy is nearly impossible without prior knowledge; planned surprises require accurate intelligence about the opponent’s position.
In simple terms: Surprises need precise enemy intel.
Key Takeaway
Intelligence enables effective surprise.
Themes
military strategy
surprise
intelligence
Mood
strategic
cautious
Type
military doctrine
strategic analysis
When to use this quote
- battlefield tactics
- business competitive moves
Key Concepts
information asymmetry
operational planning
Practical Applications
- gathering detailed opponent data before executing surprise actions
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits the reliability of intelligence for surprise?
- How can one create surprise without detailed enemy knowledge?
A Different Perspective
Even with perfect intel, the enemy may anticipate and counteract, reducing surprise impact.
![“This [a surprise attack] is an operation by no means to be despised in war, although it is rare, and less brilliant than a great strategic combination which renders victory certain even before the battle is fought.” quote by Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1ab/antoine-henri-jomini-41243_battle_this-a-surprise-attack-is-an-operation-b_767444.jpg)
![“But it is almost impossible to communicate with them [one's spies in the enemy camp] and receive the information they possess ... Even when the general receives from his spies information of movements, he still knows nothing of those which may since have taken place, nor of what the enemy is going…” quote by Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c95/antoine-henri-jomini-41243_camps_but-it-is-almost-impossible-to-communica_1838617.jpg)
![“He [Groucho's father] had absolutely no training, and if you had ever seen one of his suits, you'd realize what an accurate statement that is. You see, Pop never used a tape measure. He didn't believe in it. He said he could just look at a man and tell hi.” quote by Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/02f/groucho-marx-788_accurate_he-groucho-s-father-had-absolutely-no-tr_22161.jpg)
