--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It take 15,000 casualties to train a…" description: "\"It take 15,000 casualties to train a major general.\" — Ferdinand Foch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e09/ferdinand-foch-17344_casualties_it-take-15-000-casualties-to-train-a-maj_2020110.jpg" --- # It take 15,000 casualties to train a major general. ![“It take 15,000 casualties to train a major general.” quote by Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e09/ferdinand-foch-17344_casualties_it-take-15-000-casualties-to-train-a-maj_2020110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e09/ferdinand-foch-17344_casualties_it-take-15-000-casualties-to-train-a-maj_2020110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e09/ferdinand-foch-17344_casualties_it-take-15-000-casualties-to-train-a-maj_2020110.jpg) > “It take 15,000 casualties to train a major general.” [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement suggests that massive loss of life is required to develop high‑level military leaders, implying a harsh cost of experience. **In simple terms:** Training generals costs many lives. Key Takeaway Consider the human cost of leadership training. Themes war leadership sacrifice experience Mood critical somber Type historical ethical When to use this quote - military education - policy making - historical analysis Key Concepts military history ethics strategy Questions to Reflect On - Is it necessary to sacrifice lives for leadership? - What alternatives exist for training leaders? A Different Perspective The view is morally troubling and historically specific. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [000 Casualties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/000-casualties-3654674/) [Casualties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casualties/) [Casualties Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casualties-train-3654673/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Major General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/major-general-344588/) [Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majors/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) [Train Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train-major-3654675/) ## Related quotes > [It takes 15,000 casualties to train a major general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/it-takes-15-000-casualties-to-train-a-major-general/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [“Thus, the day ended in a tactical stalemate, with the Union suffering nearly 12,500 casualties (including over 2,000 dead) and the Confederates suffering over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/thus-the-day-ended-in-a-tactical-stalemate-with-the-union-suffering/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [A private soldier has as much right to justice as a major-general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/a-private-soldier-has-as-much-right-to-justice-as-a-major-general/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If silicon had been a gas I should have been a major-general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whistler/if-silicon-had-been-a-gas-i-should-have-been-a-major-general/) [James Whistler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whistler/) > [I am the very model of a modern major general](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/i-am-the-very-model-of-a-modern-major-general/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [I am the very model of a modern Major-General, I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral, I know the kings of England, and I quote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-gilbert/i-am-the-very-model-of-a-modern-major-general-i-ve-information/) [W. S. Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-gilbert/) > [Before this war is over, I intend to be a Major General or a corpse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-r-trimble/before-this-war-is-over-i-intend-to-be-a-major-general-or-a-corpse/) [Isaac R. Trimble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-r-trimble/) > [When war is declared, truth is the first casualty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-war-is-declared-truth-is-the-first-casualty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Their casualties and bodies are many. Their equipment and vehicles, several were destroyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/their-casualties-and-bodies-are-many-their-equipment-and-vehicles/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [“The first-day casualties on the Somme totaled 57,470.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-persico/the-first-day-casualties-on-the-somme-totaled-57-470/) [Joseph E. 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The English had got into the habit of saying that this wasn’t a war, it was a bloody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/meanwhile-nothing-happened-nothing-ever-happened-the-english-had-got/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We went over there and fought the war and eventually burned down every town in North Korea anyway, someway or another, and some in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/we-went-over-there-and-fought-the-war-and-eventually-burned-down/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. People weren't meant to be together forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-had-no-illusions-about-love-anymore-it-came-it-went-it-left/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More by Ferdinand Foch > [The laurels of victory are at the point of the enemy bayonets. They must be plucked there; they must be carried by a hand-to-hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/the-laurels-of-victory-are-at-the-point-of-the-enemy-bayonets-they/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [A battle won is a battle which we will not acknowledge to be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/a-battle-won-is-a-battle-which-we-will-not-acknowledge-to-be-lost/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [My center is giving way, my right is in retreat; situation excellent. I shall attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/my-center-is-giving-way-my-right-is-in-retreat-situation-excellent-i/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [In tactics, action is the governing rule of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/in-tactics-action-is-the-governing-rule-of-war/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [Aviation is fine as a sport. But as an instrument of war, it is worthless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/aviation-is-fine-as-a-sport-but-as-an-instrument-of-war-it-is/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [Far from being a sum of distinct and partial results, victory is the consequence of efforts, some of which are victorious while others appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/far-from-being-a-sum-of-distinct-and-partial-results-victory-is-the/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [In war there are none but particular cases; everything has there an individual nature; nothing ever repeats itself. In the first place, the data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/in-war-there-are-none-but-particular-cases-everything-has-there-an/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/the-most-powerful-weapon-on-earth-is-the-human-soul-on-fire/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [One is defeated only when one accepts defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/one-is-defeated-only-when-one-accepts-defeat/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [I am conscious of having served England as I served my own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/i-am-conscious-of-having-served-england-as-i-served-my-own-country/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [The unknown is the governing principle of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/the-unknown-is-the-governing-principle-of-war/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [The power to command has never meant the power to remain mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/the-power-to-command-has-never-meant-the-power-to-remain-mysterious/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [It takes 15,000 casualties to train a major general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/it-takes-15-000-casualties-to-train-a-major-general/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [A war not only arises, but derives its nature , from the political ideas, the moral sentiments, and the international relations obtaining at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/a-war-not-only-arises-but-derives-its-nature-from-the-political-ideas/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [To be disciplined does not mean being silent, abstaining, or doing only what one thinks one may undertake without risk; it is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/to-be-disciplined-does-not-mean-being-silent-abstaining-or-doing-only/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) [Explore all 36 Ferdinand Foch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) ## More Casualties quotes > [I had no illusions about love anymore. 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Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) > [Their casualties and bodies are many. Their equipment and vehicles, several were destroyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/their-casualties-and-bodies-are-many-their-equipment-and-vehicles/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [When war is declared, truth is the first casualty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-war-is-declared-truth-is-the-first-casualty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no battle space the U.S. Military cannot access. They said we couldn't do Afghanistan. We did it with ease. They said we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-p-m-barnett/there-is-no-battle-space-the-u-s-military-cannot-access-they-said-we/) [Thomas P.M. Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-p-m-barnett/) > [We're giving them a real lesson today. Heavy doesn't accurately describe the level of casualties we have inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/we-re-giving-them-a-real-lesson-today-heavy-doesn-t-accurately/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [I wanted people who wouldn't become too worried about casualties. One always should be concerned about casualties, but the risk of incurring casualties can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-vokes/i-wanted-people-who-wouldn-t-become-too-worried-about-casualties-one/) [Christopher Vokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-vokes/) > [WikiLeaks exposed corruption, war crimes, torture and cover-ups. 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