--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Three Armies can be deprived of their…" description: "\"The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/confucius-164_armies_the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-thei_2978630.jpg" --- # The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding… ![“The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/confucius-164_armies_the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-thei_2978630.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/confucius-164_armies_the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-thei_2978630.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/confucius-164_armies_the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-thei_2978630.jpg) > “The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Purpose is innate and cannot be removed, unlike leadership which can be absent. **In simple terms:** Purpose stays even without a commander. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal purpose regardless of external authority. Themes purpose leadership inner strength Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career setbacks - military - team projects - personal crises Key Concepts existentialism self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain purpose when leaders fail? - What inner drives sustain you? A Different Perspective Purpose can feel lost without guidance; need to rediscover it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Armies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armies/) [Armies Deprived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armies-deprived-4621106/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Commanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanding/) [Commanding Officer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanding-officer-1121574/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-man/) [Deprived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deprived/) [Deprived Commanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deprived-commanding-4621105/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Officers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officers/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Self -awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-awareness/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [“Love can be like a commanding officer. It's unfair, random, cruel, but it gets you through the war, somehow, gets you where you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-voinov/love-can-be-like-a-commanding-officer-it-s-unfair-random-cruel-but-it/) [Aleksandr Voinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-voinov/) > [I was commanding officer of a supersonic fighter squadron, F-8 Crusaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stockdale/i-was-commanding-officer-of-a-supersonic-fighter-squadron-f-8/) [James Stockdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stockdale/) > [The same advice my commanding officer at Patrol Squadron 17, Cmdr. Robert J. 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As of 0800, I am replacing Major Frankfurt as your commanding officer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-wayans/my-name-is-major-benson-winifred-payne-as-of-0800-i-am-replacing/) [Damon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-wayans/) > [I would hate to be thrust into the middle of a big film and not deliver. There's young actors and they're put into these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-considine/i-would-hate-to-be-thrust-into-the-middle-of-a-big-film-and-not/) [Paddy Considine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-considine/) > [A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-common-man-marvels-at-uncommon-things-a-wise-man-marvels-at-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man... does not set his mind either for or against anything, he will pursue whatever is right. The superior man thinks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-does-not-set-his-mind-either-for-or-against-anything/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-thinks-always-of-virtue-the-common-man-thinks-of/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The commander of the forces of a large State may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-commander-of-the-forces-of-a-large-state-may-be-carried-off-but/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In sports, I was representing my country, but in politics I represent people directly. I have always lived with a cause. In army, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajyavardhan-singh-rathore/in-sports-i-was-representing-my-country-but-in-politics-i-represent/) [Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajyavardhan-singh-rathore/) > [The Gen. Commanding, takes this means of informing the people that he has not come among them to disturb them in the enjoyment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-gen-commanding-takes-this-means-of-informing-the-people-that-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's weird but I've never really been the type to have fixations on the leading man actor. I've always been drawn more to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-crew/it-s-weird-but-i-ve-never-really-been-the-type-to-have-fixations-on/) [Amanda Crew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-crew/) > [I like to look strong and commanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-saldana/i-like-to-look-strong-and-commanding/) [Zoe Saldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-saldana/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Armies quotes > [It's with them that we have constituted a liberation front and brought our logistic support to armies to help their countries come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-ben-bella/it-s-with-them-that-we-have-constituted-a-liberation-front-and/) [Ahmed Ben Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-ben-bella/) > [Countries, not just their armies, win wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/countries-not-just-their-armies-win-wars/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [We are not intimidated by the size of the armies, or the type of hardware the US has brought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saddam-hussein/we-are-not-intimidated-by-the-size-of-the-armies-or-the-type-of/) [Saddam Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saddam-hussein/) > [All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-the-armies-of-europe-asia-and-africa-combined-with-all-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If one is intelligent and applies himself well, what can he not accomplish? Even small bands of people, I have heard, have defeated whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakya-pandita/if-one-is-intelligent-and-applies-himself-well-what-can-he-not/) [Sakya Pandita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakya-pandita/) > [I sincerely believe... that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-sincerely-believe-that-banking-establishments-are-more-dangerous-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Rule 1, on page I of the book of war, is: "Do not march on Moscow". Various people have tried it, Napoleon and Hitler,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-law-montgomery/rule-1-on-page-i-of-the-book-of-war-is-do-not-march-on-moscow-various/) [Bernard Law Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-law-montgomery/) > [If you're in the middle of a field, surrounded by armies, left right and centre, you can't just say: 'I've had enough now, sorry.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-pardew/if-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-field-surrounded-by-armies-left-right/) [Alan Pardew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-pardew/) > [My favorite parts about 'The Battle of Five Armies' were the moments where you could clearly see that we were looking at New Zealand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/my-favorite-parts-about-the-battle-of-five-armies-were-the-moments/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [As we've seen, deploying large armies abroad won't always be our best offense. Countries typically don't want foreign soldiers in their cities and towns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/as-we-ve-seen-deploying-large-armies-abroad-won-t-always-be-our-best/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [Armies are a purely human invention. Most soldiers who go to war nowadays don't even do it because they're inherently aggressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/armies-are-a-purely-human-invention-most-soldiers-who-go-to-war/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [“How long does it take for two armies to destroy each other when one has an abundance of bodies and the other an abundance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mazza/how-long-does-it-take-for-two-armies-to-destroy-each-other-when-one/) [Sarah Mazza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mazza/) > [Ants are so much like human beings as to be an embarrassment. They farm fungi, raise aphids as livestock, launch armies into war, use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/ants-are-so-much-like-human-beings-as-to-be-an-embarrassment-they/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [History shows that there are no invincible armies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/history-shows-that-there-are-no-invincible-armies/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Great armies are nothing but a collection of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-queen-of-sweden/great-armies-are-nothing-but-a-collection-of-weakness/) [Christina, Queen of Sweden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-queen-of-sweden/) [Browse all 123 Armies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Confucius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-their-commanding-officer-but-even/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Armies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-their-commanding-officer-but-even/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/confucius-164_armies_the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-thei_2978630.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/confucius-164_armies_the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-thei_2978630.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/confucius-164_armies_the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-thei_2978630.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of…” — Confucius", "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": "Confucius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Three Armies can be deprived...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-their-commanding-officer-but-even/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-their-commanding-officer-but-even/#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 } } ] } ```