--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The second reason for which the military…" description: "\"“The second reason for which the military mind addresses itself to specific assumed situations is on the occasions when there may in reality exist a se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/j-c-wylie-16136_assumptions_the-second-reason-for-which-the-military_2524876.jpg" --- # The second reason for which the military mind addresses… ![“The second reason for which the military mind addresses itself to specific assumed situations is on the occasions when there may in reality exist a set of circumstances wherein either the probability or the potential hazard is so great and so clearly marked that specific and realistic plans can in…” quote by J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/j-c-wylie-16136_assumptions_the-second-reason-for-which-the-military_2524876.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/j-c-wylie-16136_assumptions_the-second-reason-for-which-the-military_2524876.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/j-c-wylie-16136_assumptions_the-second-reason-for-which-the-military_2524876.jpg) > ““The second reason for which the military mind addresses itself to specific assumed situations is on the occasions when there may in reality exist a set of circumstances wherein either the probability or the potential hazard is so great and so clearly marked that specific and realistic plans can in fact be drawn on the basis of those assumptions.”” [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote explains that military planning focuses on high‑risk scenarios where probability and hazard are clearly significant, allowing realistic plans to be formed. **In simple terms:** Military plans target high‑risk, clearly dangerous situations. Key Takeaway Identify and plan for high‑risk scenarios. Themes risk assessment strategic planning military doctrine Mood analytical serious Type strategic educational When to use this quote - defense policy - emergency response - business risk management Key Concepts danger analysis contingency planning resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance planning for rare vs. common risks? - What tools help assess hazard severity? A Different Perspective The focus on extreme cases may neglect everyday low‑probability threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumed Situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumed-situations-1286558/) [Assumptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumptions/) [Military Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-mind-311881/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reason Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-military-1286559/) [Set Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-circumstances-301033/) ## Related quotes > [The sound of the drum drives out thought; for that very reason it is the most military of instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/the-sound-of-the-drum-drives-out-thought-for-that-very-reason-it-is/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [The military mind is indeed a menace. Old-fashioned futurity that sees only men fighting and dying in smoke and fire; hears nothing more civilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-casey/the-military-mind-is-indeed-a-menace-old-fashioned-futurity-that-sees/) [Sean O'Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-casey/) > [The military mind tends to be conservative, realistic and historical. The civilian mind tends to be liberal, idealistic and Utopian. Journalists, obviously, are civilians,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-riebling/the-military-mind-tends-to-be-conservative-realistic-and-historical/) [Mark Riebling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-riebling/) > [The professional military mind is by necessity an inferior and unimaginative mind; no man of high intellectual quality would willingly imprison his gifts in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/the-professional-military-mind-is-by-necessity-an-inferior-and/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [The military mind has one aim, and that is to make soldiers react as mechanically as possible. They want the same predictability in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/the-military-mind-has-one-aim-and-that-is-to-make-soldiers-react-as/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) > [“The insensitivity of the military mind is the result of fearing the worst and acting on the basis of worst case scenarios. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rikhi-jaipal/the-insensitivity-of-the-military-mind-is-the-result-of-fearing-the/) [Rikhi Jaipal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rikhi-jaipal/) > [Dead battles, like dead generals, hold the military mind in their dead grip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/dead-battles-like-dead-generals-hold-the-military-mind-in-their-dead-2/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [Nothing so comforts the military mind as the maxim of a great but dead general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-so-comforts-the-military-mind-as-the-maxim-of-a-great-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only thing harder than getting a new idea into the military mind is to get an old one out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-only-thing-harder-than-getting-a-new-idea-into-the-military-mind/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [I was born military. I made up my mind right away, 'Im gong to do this for the rest of my life.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-boesch/i-was-born-military-i-made-up-my-mind-right-away-im-gong-to-do-this/) [Rudy Boesch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-boesch/) > [Given the right set of circumstances any one of us could become dangerous - so why not show that in our programmes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/given-the-right-set-of-circumstances-any-one-of-us-could-become/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [“The probability of a certain set of circumstances coming together in a meaningful (or tragic) way is so low that it simply cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-king/the-probability-of-a-certain-set-of-circumstances-coming-together-in/) [V.C. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-king/) > [“In every set of circumstances, we get to create our own experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-hallis/in-every-set-of-circumstances-we-get-to-create-our-own-experience/) [Tina Hallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-hallis/) > [“But what I want to know is, is there a you independent of circumstances? Is there a way-down-deep me who is an actual, real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/but-what-i-want-to-know-is-is-there-a-you-independent-of/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) ## More by J.C. Wylie > [“The direct application to today’s problem might well be in determination of the most efficient method of combining cumulative maritime and air strategies with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/the-direct-application-to-today-s-problem-might-well-be-in/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“The ultimate determinant in war is the man on the scene with the gun. This man is the final power in war. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/the-ultimate-determinant-in-war-is-the-man-on-the-scene-with-the-gun/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“The ultimate objective of all military operations is the destruction of the enemy’s armed forces and his will to fight.”\* This sums up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/the-ultimate-objective-of-all-military-operations-is-the-destruction/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“we cannot predict with certainty the pattern of the war for which we prepare ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/we-cannot-predict-with-certainty-the-pattern-of-the-war-for-which-we/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“As a hypothetical illustration, let us assume a conflict involving us in Afghanistan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/as-a-hypothetical-illustration-let-us-assume-a-conflict-involving-us/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“AT THIS STAGE of the argument we find ourselves with four ideas relating to war and war strategy—that there will be war, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/at-this-stage-of-the-argument-we-find-ourselves-with-four-ideas/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“With respect to strategy as a subject of study, its intellectual framework is not clearly outlined, and its vocabulary is almost nonexistent. These two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/with-respect-to-strategy-as-a-subject-of-study-its-intellectual/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“we cannot predict with certainty the pattern of the war for which we prepare ourselves. We cannot, with reasonable certainty, forecast the time, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/we-cannot-predict-with-certainty-the-pattern-of-the-war-for-which-we-2/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“the definition of strategy that I prefer: A plan of action designed in order to achieve some end; a purpose together with a system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/the-definition-of-strategy-that-i-prefer-a-plan-of-action-designed-in/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“The classical soldier’s beliefs and behavior patterns are all summarized in the central theme of Clausewitz, who tells us that his study of war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/the-classical-soldier-s-beliefs-and-behavior-patterns-are-all/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“If we examine the four major limited theories of strategy—the continental, the maritime, the air and the Mao theories—and add to them the broader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/if-we-examine-the-four-major-limited-theories-of-strategy-the/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“a general theory of strategy must, I believe, be a theory of power in all its forms, not just a theory of military power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/a-general-theory-of-strategy-must-i-believe-be-a-theory-of-power-in/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“It should be clearly understood that this term “equilibrium” does not mean a static halt to action, although it conceivably could be this. More…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/it-should-be-clearly-understood-that-this-term-equilibrium-does-not/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“the soldier cannot function alone. His flanks are bare, his rear is vulnerable, and he looks aloft with a cautious eye. He needs the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/the-soldier-cannot-function-alone-his-flanks-are-bare-his-rear-is/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [“There are not many other such places where the maritime element of our national strength cannot be applied, but where this is true, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/there-are-not-many-other-such-places-where-the-maritime-element-of/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) [Explore all 40 J.C. Wylie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) ## More Assumptions quotes > [There was a lot of stress and assumptions made without me even saying anything, which was very upsetting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/there-was-a-lot-of-stress-and-assumptions-made-without-me-even-saying/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) > [When assumptions were made that I was going to bail out there was a little part of my brain that thought 'I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/when-assumptions-were-made-that-i-was-going-to-bail-out-there-was-a/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) > [“One should not make more assumptions than are absolutely necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-kerner/one-should-not-make-more-assumptions-than-are-absolutely-necessary/) [Ian Kerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-kerner/) > [I think facts remove assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-williams/i-think-facts-remove-assumptions/) [Monty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-williams/) > [“While you judge me by my outward appearance I am silently doing the same to you, even though there's a ninety-percent chance that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/while-you-judge-me-by-my-outward-appearance-i-am-silently-doing-the/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Civilizaton rests on the assumption that the universe is kindly disposed towards mankind and intended for our benefit. Imagine the upheaval were it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovegrove/civilizaton-rests-on-the-assumption-that-the-universe-is-kindly/) [James Lovegrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovegrove/) > [For me, filmmaking is not about making statements but about exposing human behavior so people are eager enough to start thinking on their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/for-me-filmmaking-is-not-about-making-statements-but-about-exposing/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [“The problem with making assumptions is that we believe they are the truth. We could swear they are real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz/the-problem-with-making-assumptions-is-that-we-believe-they-are-the/) [Miguel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz/) > [People just assume, over the years, that soccer players are not too intelligent. As with most assumptions, they're wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/people-just-assume-over-the-years-that-soccer-players-are-not-too/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-explanation-requiring-the-fewest-assumptions-is-most-likely-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Words in the head are sticky and social creatures – when you finally pull one out, you're liable to get lots of bits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-carlson/words-in-the-head-are-sticky-and-social-creatures-when-you-finally/) [Greg Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-carlson/) > [“The professor argues against measuring effectiveness in the shallow short-term in the "fierce humanities," for teaching that seeks not merely learning, but unlearning, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-nelson/the-professor-argues-against-measuring-effectiveness-in-the-shallow/) [Cary Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-nelson/) > [I'm like anyone; I make a lot of my assumptions about actors I don't know from what I read about them. And then I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/i-m-like-anyone-i-make-a-lot-of-my-assumptions-about-actors-i-don-t/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [One thing that irritates me is when people kind of make assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/one-thing-that-irritates-me-is-when-people-kind-of-make-assumptions/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) > [“To assume is to presume.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-morgan/to-assume-is-to-presume/) [Jude Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-morgan/) [Browse all 393 Assumptions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumptions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The second reason for which the military mind addresses itself to specific assumed situations is on the occasions when there may in reality exist a set of circumstances wherein either the probability or the potential hazard is so great and so clearly marked that specific and realistic plans can in fact be drawn on the basis of those assumptions.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.C. 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