--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This high proportion of history's…" description: "\"This high proportion of history's decisive campaigns, the significance of which is enhanced by the comparative rarity of the direct approach, enforces ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/b-h-liddell-hart-9275_approach_this-high-proportion-of-history-s-decisi_1182896.png" --- # This high proportion of history's decisive campaigns, the… ![“This high proportion of history's decisive campaigns, the significance of which is enhanced by the comparative rarity of the direct approach, enforces the conclusion that the indirect is by far the most hopeful and economic form of strategy.” quote by B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/b-h-liddell-hart-9275_approach_this-high-proportion-of-history-s-decisi_1182896.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/b-h-liddell-hart-9275_approach_this-high-proportion-of-history-s-decisi_1182896.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/b-h-liddell-hart-9275_approach_this-high-proportion-of-history-s-decisi_1182896.png) > “This high proportion of history's decisive campaigns, the significance of which is enhanced by the comparative rarity of the direct approach, enforces the conclusion that the indirect is by far the most hopeful and economic form of strategy.” [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Indirect methods in warfare are often more hopeful and economical than direct attacks, as history shows decisive campaigns succeed through indirect approaches. **In simple terms:** Indirect tactics are often more effective. Key Takeaway Prefer indirect strategies when possible. Themes military strategy economics history Mood analytical strategic Type military business When to use this quote - business planning - conflict resolution - military training Key Concepts indirect approach resource efficiency Questions to Reflect On - When is a direct approach preferable? - How can you identify the most efficient strategy? A Different Perspective Indirect tactics can be slower and risk misinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Campaigns Significance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns-significance-3476803/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Decisive Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisive-campaigns-3476801/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Direct approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-approach-47354/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Decisive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-decisive-3476802/) [Hopeful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopeful/) [Indirect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indirect/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Proportion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion/) [Rarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rarity/) [Significance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance/) [Significance Enhanced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance-enhanced-3476804/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) ## Related quotes > [In strategy the longest way round is often the shortest way there- a direct approach to the object exhausts the attacker and hardens the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/in-strategy-the-longest-way-round-is-often-the-shortest-way-there-a/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [... the ordinary is simply the universal observed from the surface, that the direct approach to reality is not without, but within. Touch life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/the-ordinary-is-simply-the-universal-observed-from-the-surface-that/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Significant progress in the solutions of technical problems is frequently made not by a direct approach, but by first setting a goal of high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-stuhlinger/significant-progress-in-the-solutions-of-technical-problems-is/) [Ernst Stuhlinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-stuhlinger/) > [It fascinates me to analyze these things and, yes, to see layers in the texts and the building up of Biblical literature. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-cross/it-fascinates-me-to-analyze-these-things-and-yes-to-see-layers-in-the/) [Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-cross/) > [“Finding people’s native genius and then labeling it is a direct approach to drawing more intelligence from them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/finding-people-s-native-genius-and-then-labeling-it-is-a-direct/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [In our long and obsessive passion for youth, we have - more than any other modern society - avoided direct approach to age and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/in-our-long-and-obsessive-passion-for-youth-we-have-more-than-any/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [I don't like taking a sly picture on the side. I like the direct approach. 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A cultured college president has become as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bergen-evans/legislators-who-are-of-even-average-intelligence-stand-out-among/) [Bergen Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bergen-evans/) > [Rarity gives a charm; so early fruits and winter roses are the most prized; and coyness sets off an extravagant mistress, while the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/rarity-gives-a-charm-so-early-fruits-and-winter-roses-are-the-most/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [To a lot of Africans, seeing an animal is a something of a rarity. So it's a paradox of this sort of parallel life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/to-a-lot-of-africans-seeing-an-animal-is-a-something-of-a-rarity-so/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [“The rarity of what you hold is more powerful than you can imagine. It is a gift for humanity and the most lethal curse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-j-pryor/the-rarity-of-what-you-hold-is-more-powerful-than-you-can-imagine-it/) [Lindsay J. Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-j-pryor/) > [I like the whole package to be good, It's a rarity that that happens, so I end up not working a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wright/i-like-the-whole-package-to-be-good-it-s-a-rarity-that-that-happens/) [Robin Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wright/) > [Technology has altered the way music sounds, how it’s composed and how we experience it. It has also flooded the world with music. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/technology-has-altered-the-way-music-sounds-how-it-s-composed-and-how/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [The wisdom of providence is as much revealed in the rarity of genius, as in the circumstance that not everyone is deaf or blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/the-wisdom-of-providence-is-as-much-revealed-in-the-rarity-of-genius/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) ## More by B. H. Liddell Hart > [The downfall of civilized states tends to come not from the direct assaults of foes, but from internal decay combined with the consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-downfall-of-civilized-states-tends-to-come-not-from-the-direct/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [The implied threat of using nuclear weapons to curb guerrillas was as absurd as to talk of using a sledge hammer to ward off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-implied-threat-of-using-nuclear-weapons-to-curb-guerrillas-was-as/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [In war the chief incalculable is the human will, which manifests itself in resistance, which in turn lies in the province of tactics. Strategy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/in-war-the-chief-incalculable-is-the-human-will-which-manifests/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [If you want peace, understand war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/if-you-want-peace-understand-war/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [In a campaign against more than one state or army, it is more fruitful to concentrate first against the weaker partner than to attempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/in-a-campaign-against-more-than-one-state-or-army-it-is-more-fruitful/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [I used to think that the causes of war were predominantly economic. I came to think that they were more psychological. I am now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/i-used-to-think-that-the-causes-of-war-were-predominantly-economic-i/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [While the nominal strength of a country is represented by its numbers and resources, this muscular development is dependent on the state of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/while-the-nominal-strength-of-a-country-is-represented-by-its-numbers/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [If we clear the air of the fog of catchwords which surround the conduct of war, and grasp that in the human will lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/if-we-clear-the-air-of-the-fog-of-catchwords-which-surround-the/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [The unexpected cannot guarantee success, but it guarantees the best chance of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-unexpected-cannot-guarantee-success-but-it-guarantees-the-best/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [Guerrilla war is a kind of war waged by the few but dependent on the support of many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/guerrilla-war-is-a-kind-of-war-waged-by-the-few-but-dependent-on-the/) [B. H. 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Liddell Hart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [I don't have any particular method, my approach is very simple. 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