--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The battlefields of World War I…" description: "\"“The battlefields of World War I established the importance of petroleum as an element of national power when the internal combustion machine overtook ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/daniel-yergin-15406_computers_the-battlefields-of-world-war-i-establis_2856469.jpg" --- # The battlefields of World War I established the importance… ![“The battlefields of World War I established the importance of petroleum as an element of national power when the internal combustion machine overtook the horse and the coal-powered locomotive.” quote by Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/daniel-yergin-15406_computers_the-battlefields-of-world-war-i-establis_2856469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/daniel-yergin-15406_computers_the-battlefields-of-world-war-i-establis_2856469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/daniel-yergin-15406_computers_the-battlefields-of-world-war-i-establis_2856469.jpg) > ““The battlefields of World War I established the importance of petroleum as an element of national power when the internal combustion machine overtook the horse and the coal-powered locomotive.”” [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. World War I showed that oil became essential for modern military power, replacing horses and coal locomotives. **In simple terms:** Oil became key to war power. Key Takeaway Recognize energy’s strategic role. Themes military strategy energy economics technology change Mood analytical historical Type strategic educational When to use this quote - defense planning - energy policy - historical analysis - national security Key Concepts Geopolitics industrialization resource dependency Questions to Reflect On - How does energy shape modern conflicts? - What alternatives could reduce reliance on oil? A Different Perspective Oil alone cannot guarantee victory without logistics and technology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Petroleum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/petroleum/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) ## Related quotes > [When you talk about the coal communities we need a senator to protect the benefits these coal miners need and deserve and earned, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/when-you-talk-about-the-coal-communities-we-need-a-senator-to-protect/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can. It's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-if-somebody-wants-to-build-a-coal-powered-plant-they-can-it-s-just/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The legitimacy of a war is not established by how it is organized but by what it achieves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/the-legitimacy-of-a-war-is-not-established-by-how-it-is-organized-but/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“The greatest war story ever told commemorates a war that established no boundaries, won no territory, and furthered no cause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-alexander/the-greatest-war-story-ever-told-commemorates-a-war-that-established/) [Caroline Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-alexander/) > [“The rules of war established by pen soldiers do not form the basis of actual operations in the field,” he wrote.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-chivers/the-rules-of-war-established-by-pen-soldiers-do-not-form-the-basis-of/) [C.J. Chivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-chivers/) > [The world has produced about 1 trillion barrels of oil since the start of the industry in the nineteenth century. Currently, it is thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/the-world-has-produced-about-1-trillion-barrels-of-oil-since-the/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not be effected by the engines of national power. Let us, through persuasion and education, seek to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/social-and-cultural-change-however-desirable-should-not-be-effected/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [“in the international arena, national power is a direct result of economic might.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-r-kroeber/in-the-international-arena-national-power-is-a-direct-result-of/) [Arthur R. Kroeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-r-kroeber/) > [The stream will not permanently rise higher than the main source; and the main source of national power and national greatness is found in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-stream-will-not-permanently-rise-higher-than-the-main-source-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“The shift in national power may be overshadowed by an even more fundamental shift in the nature of power. Enabled by communications technologies, power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/national-research-council/the-shift-in-national-power-may-be-overshadowed-by-an-even-more/) National Research Council > [The mantra from the Obama State Department is 'smart power' - the not-so-new idea that all elements of national power should be utilized to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-royce/the-mantra-from-the-obama-state-department-is-smart-power-the-not-so/) [Ed Royce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-royce/) > [A truly global economy, as opposed to the multinational economy of the recent past, will require concessions of national power ... that seemed impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wriston/a-truly-global-economy-as-opposed-to-the-multinational-economy-of-the/) [Walter Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wriston/) > [Americans must place greater emphasis on the more subtle dimensions of national power, such as innovation, education, the balance of force and diplomacy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/americans-must-place-greater-emphasis-on-the-more-subtle-dimensions/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Would food be considered an instrument of national power? ... Is the U.S. prepared to accept food rationing to help people who can't/won't control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/would-food-be-considered-an-instrument-of-national-power-is-the-u-s/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Clearly, this Sino-Japanese War of more than four years was a considerable burden on Japan's national power and an obstacle to the maintenance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tojo-hideki/clearly-this-sino-japanese-war-of-more-than-four-years-was-a/) Tojo Hideki ## More by Daniel Yergin > [Cycles of shortage and surplus characterize the entire history of oil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/cycles-of-shortage-and-surplus-characterize-the-entire-history-of-oil/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [First, we have to find a common vocabulary for energy security. This notion has a radically different meaning for different people. For Americans it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/first-we-have-to-find-a-common-vocabulary-for-energy-security-this/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [I think the producers, for the most part, don't want to see prices skyrocket because that will only create problems for them down the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/i-think-the-producers-for-the-most-part-don-t-want-to-see-prices/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [“A man is a business failure if he lets his family life interfere with his business record,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/a-man-is-a-business-failure-if-he-lets-his-family-life-interfere-with/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [If a war started, the oil price probably would go up, as you said, maybe $5, $6 a barrel until you saw other oil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/if-a-war-started-the-oil-price-probably-would-go-up-as-you-said-maybe/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [But that's not enough: To maintain energy security, one needs a supply system that provides a buffer against shocks. It needs large, flexible markets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/but-that-s-not-enough-to-maintain-energy-security-one-needs-a-supply/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [“It was very handy to have such a foreign scapegoat when so much was wrong at home.1”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/it-was-very-handy-to-have-such-a-foreign-scapegoat-when-so-much-was/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [But eventually it's a question of access: Getting access to fields is on top of the oil companies' agenda. We see a substantial build-up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/but-eventually-it-s-a-question-of-access-getting-access-to-fields-is/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [An important United Nations environmental conference went past 6:00 in the evening when the interpreters' contracted working conditions said they could leave. They left,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/an-important-united-nations-environmental-conference-went-past-6-00/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [The bulk of extra supplies that could be put into the market come from two places. One, they come from other Persian Gulf suppliers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/the-bulk-of-extra-supplies-that-could-be-put-into-the-market-come/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [The world has produced about 1 trillion barrels of oil since the start of the industry in the nineteenth century. Currently, it is thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/the-world-has-produced-about-1-trillion-barrels-of-oil-since-the/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [It's extraordinary how inventive one can be with ethanol right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/it-s-extraordinary-how-inventive-one-can-be-with-ethanol-right-now/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [In a world of increasing interdependence, energy security will depend much on how countries manage their relations with one another. That is why energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/in-a-world-of-increasing-interdependence-energy-security-will-depend/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [We are living in a new age of energy supply anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/we-are-living-in-a-new-age-of-energy-supply-anxiety/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [The Russians are turning east to the Chinese - to the Europeans' surprise. It always seemed to me that the relationship between Russia and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/the-russians-are-turning-east-to-the-chinese-to-the-europeans/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) [Explore all 42 Daniel Yergin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. Had a one night stand with something cute a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/probably-it-goes-without-saying-but-time-machine-guys-don-t-get-a-lot/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Note found in the patron suggestion box: "You have SIGNS up near the computers that say BE QUIET, but people don't be quiet. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) Jen-Hsun Huang > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) William Henry Pickering > [“Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test: a computer is intelligent if you can't tell it from a human when you talk with it. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjs-hayward/alan-turing-proposed-the-turing-test-a-computer-is-intelligent-if-you/) [CJS Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cjs-hayward/) > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) Cruce Stark > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The battlefields of World War I established the importance of petroleum as an element of national power when the internal combustion machine overtook the horse and the coal-powered locomotive.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel Yergin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/the-battlefields-of-world-war-i-established-the-importance-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Computers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/the-battlefields-of-world-war-i-established-the-importance-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/daniel-yergin-15406_computers_the-battlefields-of-world-war-i-establis_2856469.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/daniel-yergin-15406_computers_the-battlefields-of-world-war-i-establis_2856469.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/daniel-yergin-15406_computers_the-battlefields-of-world-war-i-establis_2856469.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The battlefields of World War I established the importance of petroleum as an element of national power when…” — Daniel Yergin", "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": "Daniel Yergin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The battlefields of World War I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/the-battlefields-of-world-war-i-established-the-importance-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/the-battlefields-of-world-war-i-established-the-importance-of/#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 } } ] } ```