---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In war, where imperfect intelligence, the…"
description: "\"In war, where imperfect intelligence, the threat of a catastrophe, and the number of accidents are incomparably greater than any other human endeavor, ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_accidents_in-war-where-imperfect-intelligence-the_2834985.jpg"
---

#  In war, where imperfect intelligence, the threat of a…

![“In war, where imperfect intelligence, the threat of a catastrophe, and the number of accidents are incomparably greater than any other human endeavor, the amount of missed opportunities, so to speak, is therefore bound to be greater.” quote by Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_accidents_in-war-where-imperfect-intelligence-the_2834985.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_accidents_in-war-where-imperfect-intelligence-the_2834985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_accidents_in-war-where-imperfect-intelligence-the_2834985.jpg)

> “In war, where imperfect intelligence, the threat of a catastrophe, and the number of accidents are incomparably greater than any other human endeavor, the amount of missed opportunities, so to speak, is therefore bound to be greater.”

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

In war, imperfect information and high risk create countless missed chances, making errors inevitable.

**In simple terms:** War is full of missed chances.

Key Takeaway

Plan for uncertainty.

Themes

war risk information mistakes

Mood

analytical cautious

Type

strategic historical

When to use this quote

- military planning
- policy making
- risk assessment
- historical analysis

Key Concepts

strategic theory probability

Questions to Reflect On

- How can leaders reduce missed opportunities?
- What role does intelligence play in decision‑making?

A Different Perspective

May overgeneralize to non‑military contexts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Catastrophe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophe/) [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Missed - opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missed-opportunity/) [Missed Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missed-opportunities/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [ \[When I die\], I will decidedly not be regretting missed opportunities for a good time. My regrets will be more along the lines of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/when-i-die-i-will-decidedly-not-be-regretting-missed-opportunities/)

[Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/)

> [Throughout my life I had wandered alone, trying to find pieces of me in any place I could and when it came down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-carter/throughout-my-life-i-had-wandered-alone-trying-to-find-pieces-of-me/)

[Matthew Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-carter/)

> [Why cry about missed opportunities when you have the ability to smile at opportunities lived? The past has created who you are NOW, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-plitt/why-cry-about-missed-opportunities-when-you-have-the-ability-to-smile/)

[Greg Plitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-plitt/)

> [I started drinking in my late teen years and continued through college and into the early years of my career. I had a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-nadler/i-started-drinking-in-my-late-teen-years-and-continued-through/)

[Marissa Nadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-nadler/)

> [So I'm here, and not being one for missed opportunities, I made a list of the casting directors in New York and mark off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mapother/so-i-m-here-and-not-being-one-for-missed-opportunities-i-made-a-list/)

[William Mapother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mapother/)

> [There's no point whining about missed opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/there-s-no-point-whining-about-missed-opportunities/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

> [I’ve seen - both in myself and my competitors - how satisfaction can lead to a lack of vigilance, then to mistakes and missed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/i-ve-seen-both-in-myself-and-my-competitors-how-satisfaction-can-lead/)

[Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/)

> [Life's missed opportunities, at the end, may seem more poignant to us than those we embraced — because in our imagination they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/life-s-missed-opportunities-at-the-end-may-seem-more-poignant-to-us/)

[Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/)

> [But to deny fate is arrogance, to declare that we are the sole shapers of our existence is madness;if you deny fate life becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/but-to-deny-fate-is-arrogance-to-declare-that-we-are-the-sole-shapers/)

[Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/)

> [ \[God\] is able to take your life, with all of the heartache, all of the pain, all of the regret, all of the missed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/god-is-able-to-take-your-life-with-all-of-the-heartache-all-of-the/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [When you spin a globe and point to a city and actually go to that city, you build an allowance of missed opportunities on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/when-you-spin-a-globe-and-point-to-a-city-and-actually-go-to-that/)

[Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/)

> [For me, the times I always regret are missed opportunities to say farewell to good people, to wish them long life and say to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/for-me-the-times-i-always-regret-are-missed-opportunities-to-say/)

[Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/)

> [I'm not making excuses for the missed opportunities of the Israelis, or the lack of generosity, the lack of empathy that I think goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-not-making-excuses-for-the-missed-opportunities-of-the-israelis/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [Just as, in travel, one may miss seeing the sunset because one cannot find the ticket-office or is afraid of missing the train, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-origo/just-as-in-travel-one-may-miss-seeing-the-sunset-because-one-cannot/)

[Iris Origo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-origo/)

> [Don't allow missed opportunities of the past interfere with the opportunities that are right before you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-robbins/don-t-allow-missed-opportunities-of-the-past-interfere-with-the/)

[Ryan Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-robbins/)

## More by Carl von Clausewitz

> [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [Politics is the womb in which war develops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/politics-is-the-womb-in-which-war-develops/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [ Rather than comparing \[war\] to art we could more accurately compare it to commerce, which is also a conflict of human interests and activities;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/rather-than-comparing-war-to-art-we-could-more-accurately-compare-it/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [Savage peoples are ruled by passion, civilized peoples by the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/savage-peoples-are-ruled-by-passion-civilized-peoples-by-the-mind/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [After we have thought out everything carefully in advance and have sought and found without prejudice the most plausible plan, we must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/after-we-have-thought-out-everything-carefully-in-advance-and-have/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [Intelligence alone is not courage, we often see that the most intelligent people are irresolute. Since in the rush of events a man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/intelligence-alone-is-not-courage-we-often-see-that-the-most/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [The great uncertainty of all data in war is because all action, to a certain extent, planned in a mere twilight - like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-great-uncertainty-of-all-data-in-war-is-because-all-action-to-a/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [Self-reliance is the best defence against the pressures of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/self-reliance-is-the-best-defence-against-the-pressures-of-the-moment/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [War is the realm of uncertainty; three-quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/war-is-the-realm-of-uncertainty-three-quarters-of-the-factors-on/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [We repeat again: strength of character does not consist solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one’s balance in spite of them. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/we-repeat-again-strength-of-character-does-not-consist-solely-in/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [There is only one decisive victory: the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/there-is-only-one-decisive-victory-the-last/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [A conqueror is always a lover of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/a-conqueror-is-always-a-lover-of-peace/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [War is nothing but a continuation of politics with the admixture of other means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/war-is-nothing-but-a-continuation-of-politics-with-the-admixture-of/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [War is not merely a political act but a real political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse, a carrying out of the same by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/war-is-not-merely-a-political-act-but-a-real-political-instrument-a/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

[Explore all 181 Carl von Clausewitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

## More Accidents quotes

> [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/)

[Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/)

> [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/)

[Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/)

> [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/)

[Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/)

> [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/)

[John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/)

> [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/)

[Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/)

> [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/)

[Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/)

> [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/)

[Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/)

> [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/)

[Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/)

> [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/)

[Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/)

> [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/)

[Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/)

> [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/)

[Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/)

> [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/)

[Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/)

> [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/)

[Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/)

> [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/)

[Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/)

> [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/)

[Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/)

[Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In war, where imperfect intelligence, the threat of a catastrophe, and the number of accidents are incomparably greater than any other human endeavor, the amount of missed opportunities, so to speak, is therefore bound to be greater.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Carl von Clausewitz"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/in-war-where-imperfect-intelligence-the-threat-of-a-catastrophe-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accidents"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/in-war-where-imperfect-intelligence-the-threat-of-a-catastrophe-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_accidents_in-war-where-imperfect-intelligence-the_2834985.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_accidents_in-war-where-imperfect-intelligence-the_2834985.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_accidents_in-war-where-imperfect-intelligence-the_2834985.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In war, where imperfect intelligence, the threat of a catastrophe, and the number of accidents are…” — Carl von Clausewitz",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Carl von Clausewitz",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In war, where imperfect intelligence, the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/in-war-where-imperfect-intelligence-the-threat-of-a-catastrophe-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/in-war-where-imperfect-intelligence-the-threat-of-a-catastrophe-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
