--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Command is a mountaintop. The air…" description: "\"Command is a mountaintop. The air breathed there is different, and the perspectives seen there are different, from those of the valley of obedience. Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/bertrand-de-jouvenel-20688_air_command-is-a-mountaintop-the-air-breathe_3193943.jpg" --- # Command is a mountaintop. The air breathed there is… ![“Command is a mountaintop. The air breathed there is different, and the perspectives seen there are different, from those of the valley of obedience. The passion for order and the genius for construction, which are part of man's natural endowment, get full play there. The man who has grown great…” quote by Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/bertrand-de-jouvenel-20688_air_command-is-a-mountaintop-the-air-breathe_3193943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/bertrand-de-jouvenel-20688_air_command-is-a-mountaintop-the-air-breathe_3193943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/bertrand-de-jouvenel-20688_air_command-is-a-mountaintop-the-air-breathe_3193943.jpg) > “Command is a mountaintop. The air breathed there is different, and the perspectives seen there are different, from those of the valley of obedience. The passion for order and the genius for construction, which are part of man's natural endowment, get full play there. The man who has grown great sees from the top of his tower what he can make, if he so wills, of the swarming masses below him.” [Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage contrasts the lofty, creative perspective of leadership with the obedient, limited view of subordination, highlighting the drive for order and construction. **In simple terms:** Leaders see broader possibilities and shape society, unlike followers. Key Takeaway Recognize the responsibility of visionary leadership. Themes leadership power vision order construction Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical leadership When to use this quote - political leadership - organizational management - urban planning Key Concepts Strategic thinking creative authority social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - What ethical duties accompany high-level decision making? - How to balance vision with humility? A Different Perspective Authority can become detached from reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Command](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/command/) [Command Mountaintop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/command-mountaintop-5902882/) [Construction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Endowment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endowment/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Tower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tower/) [Towers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towers/) [Valley Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valley-obedience-5902883/) [Valleys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valleys/) ## Related quotes > [Architecture is the alphabet of giants; it is the largest set of symbols ever made to meet the eyes of men. 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His Name will never be defeated. His Name will never be reduced to rubble. A tower that’s stronger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-curtis-higgs/his-name-will-never-fall-his-name-will-never-be-defeated-his-name/) [Liz Curtis Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-curtis-higgs/) > [I've always thought Blues Point Tower is one of my best buildings and I stand by that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-seidler/i-ve-always-thought-blues-point-tower-is-one-of-my-best-buildings-and/) [Harry Seidler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-seidler/) > [The reason for the scaffolding on the tower of Saint Germain-des-Près is that a rich American has purchased it and is having it crated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/the-reason-for-the-scaffolding-on-the-tower-of-saint-germain-des-pr-s/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [From a proud tower in the town, Death looks gigantically down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-a-proud-tower-in-the-town-death-looks-gigantically-down/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [The Black Tower stands with the Lion of Andor." -Logain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/the-black-tower-stands-with-the-lion-of-andor-logain/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [I like the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas more than the actual one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lachapelle/i-like-the-eiffel-tower-in-las-vegas-more-than-the-actual-one/) [David LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lachapelle/) > [I will build you a castle with a tower so high it reaches the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/i-will-build-you-a-castle-with-a-tower-so-high-it-reaches-the-moon/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [You have to understand, I grew up in the shadow of the Safeco tower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mcgavick/you-have-to-understand-i-grew-up-in-the-shadow-of-the-safeco-tower/) [Mike McGavick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mcgavick/) ## More by Bertrand de Jouvenel > [But there are no institutions on earth which enable each separate person to have a hand in the exercise of Power, for Power is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/but-there-are-no-institutions-on-earth-which-enable-each-separate/) [Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [It is appropriate here to recall that the so-called Dark Ages began with the flight of the individuals into the protection of lords or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/it-is-appropriate-here-to-recall-that-the-so-called-dark-ages-began/) [Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“As every advance of Power is useful for war, so war is useful for the advance of power; war is like a sheep-dog harrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/as-every-advance-of-power-is-useful-for-war-so-war-is-useful-for-the/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“The modern absolutism, which we find the most natural thing in the world, would have been quite beyond the dreams of the most absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/the-modern-absolutism-which-we-find-the-most-natural-thing-in-the/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [Ransack the history of revolutions, and it will be found that every fall of a regime has been presaged by a defiance which went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/ransack-the-history-of-revolutions-and-it-will-be-found-that-every/) [Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“The man who has dedicated himself to the success of the protect, the master builder, no longer has any freedom: his conduct is now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/the-man-who-has-dedicated-himself-to-the-success-of-the-protect-the/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“The entire stock of relationships which suited in war—militiae—was regarded as inadmissible and improper in peace—domi. We have the measure of how right the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/the-entire-stock-of-relationships-which-suited-in-war-militiae-was/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“Power changes its appearance but not its reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/power-changes-its-appearance-but-not-its-reality/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“Historians of the sentimental school have sometimes regretted that royalty became absolute, while at the same time rejoicing that it installed plebeians in office.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/historians-of-the-sentimental-school-have-sometimes-regretted-that/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“The idea so commonly found that scepticism leads to toleration arises from considering the effects of scepticism in the intellectual who takes no active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/the-idea-so-commonly-found-that-scepticism-leads-to-toleration-arises/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“Power is linked with war, and a society wishing to limit war's ravages can find no other way than by limiting the scope of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/power-is-linked-with-war-and-a-society-wishing-to-limit-war-s-ravages/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“Rejoicing in his absolute authority, the single egoist will exploit it methodically, whereas a mêlée of egoists will bring about a ruinous disorder and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/rejoicing-in-his-absolute-authority-the-single-egoist-will-exploit-it/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [For, once man is declared 'the measure of all things,' there is no longer a true, or a good, or a just, but only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/for-once-man-is-declared-the-measure-of-all-things-there-is-no-longer/) [Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [Barbarian invasions would be superfluous: We are our own Huns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/barbarian-invasions-would-be-superfluous-we-are-our-own-huns/) [Bertrand de Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) > [“Where will it all end? In the destruction of all other command for the benefit of one alone - that of the state. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-de-jouvenel/where-will-it-all-end-in-the-destruction-of-all-other-command-for-the/) [Bertrand De Jouvenel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) [Explore all 30 Bertrand de Jouvenel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-de-jouvenel/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. 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