--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In this age, I don't care how tactically…" description: "\"In this age, I don't care how tactically or operationally brilliant you are: if you cannot create harmony - even vicious harmony - on the battlefield b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/jim-mattis-7799_age_in-this-age-i-don-t-care-how-tactically_475555.jpg" --- # In this age, I don't care how tactically or operationally… ![“In this age, I don't care how tactically or operationally brilliant you are: if you cannot create harmony - even vicious harmony - on the battlefield based on trust across service lines, across coalition and national lines, and across civilian/military lines, you need to go home, because your…” quote by Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/jim-mattis-7799_age_in-this-age-i-don-t-care-how-tactically_475555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/jim-mattis-7799_age_in-this-age-i-don-t-care-how-tactically_475555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/jim-mattis-7799_age_in-this-age-i-don-t-care-how-tactically_475555.jpg) > “In this age, I don't care how tactically or operationally brilliant you are: if you cannot create harmony - even vicious harmony - on the battlefield based on trust across service lines, across coalition and national lines, and across civilian/military lines, you need to go home, because your leadership is obsolete.” [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership must foster trust and harmony across all divisions; without it, even the most skilled leaders become irrelevant. **In simple terms:** Good leaders build trust across groups; without it they fail. Key Takeaway Cultivate cross‑functional trust and shared purpose. Themes leadership trust collaboration military obsolescence Mood critical strategic Type guidance inspirational When to use this quote - corporate mergers - joint task forces - multinational operations - humanitarian missions Key Concepts strategic alignment interagency cooperation coalition building civil‑military relations Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture trust in a diverse team? - What signs show trust is breaking down? A Different Perspective Trust is hard to build quickly and can be undermined by cultural differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsolete/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [In this age, I dont care how tactically or operationally brilliant you are, if you cannot create harmony even vicious harmony on the battlefield…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/in-this-age-i-dont-care-how-tactically-or-operationally-brilliant-you/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Al-Qa'ida does not follow a traditional command structure, wear uniforms, carry its arms openly, or mass its troops at the borders of the nations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/al-qa-ida-does-not-follow-a-traditional-command-structure-wear/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [By calling attention to 'a well regulated militia,' 'the security of the nation,' and the right of each citizen 'to keep and bear arms,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/by-calling-attention-to-a-well-regulated-militia-the-security-of-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We all must be mindful that the United States has diplomatic, civilian, and military personnel deployed in other countries with both challenging security environments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/we-all-must-be-mindful-that-the-united-states-has-diplomatic-civilian/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [There's simply no reason for a civilian to own a military-style assault weapon. It's no different than why we outlaw civilian ownership of rockets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-moulton/there-s-simply-no-reason-for-a-civilian-to-own-a-military-style/) [Seth Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-moulton/) > [“Many, Lorenzo, have held and still hold the opinion, that there is nothing which has less in common with another, and that is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/many-lorenzo-have-held-and-still-hold-the-opinion-that-there-is/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Restoring the primacy of law designed specifically for the unique conditions of the battlefield is naturally compelling, as is guarding the rights of those,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/restoring-the-primacy-of-law-designed-specifically-for-the-unique/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [There's an ocean of misunderstanding. It's called the civilian-military divide. I had a lot to learn about our military - who they are, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/there-s-an-ocean-of-misunderstanding-it-s-called-the-civilian/) [Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/) > [A slow band can be great. A slow 100-metres runner is just obsolete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylve-nagell/a-slow-band-can-be-great-a-slow-100-metres-runner-is-just-obsolete/) [Gylve Nagell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylve-nagell/) > [Politics is an obsolete way of doing things. Although it was good a hundred years ago, it has no place in today's high tech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/politics-is-an-obsolete-way-of-doing-things-although-it-was-good-a/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [“Having no applicable skills, in any possible area whatsoever, effectively makes me the master of redundancy. But that info is obsolete, like my insults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/having-no-applicable-skills-in-any-possible-area-whatsoever/) Will Advise > [Saying women aren't funny is now like saying Asians can't drive or saying black people have bad credit. It's just really, like, so obsolete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-cummings/saying-women-aren-t-funny-is-now-like-saying-asians-can-t-drive-or/) [Whitney Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-cummings/) > [It's essential that we learn how to defend the Bible and the Christian faith for our sake and our children's. If we don't, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ham/it-s-essential-that-we-learn-how-to-defend-the-bible-and-the/) [Ken Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ham/) > [The D.C. playbook is obsolete. It's time for the people of California to bring the agenda to Washington, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/the-d-c-playbook-is-obsolete-it-s-time-for-the-people-of-california/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [What's the difference between obsolete and cutting edge? Obsolete works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-negroponte/what-s-the-difference-between-obsolete-and-cutting-edge-obsolete-works/) [Nicholas Negroponte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-negroponte/) ## More by Jim Mattis > [There is no room for military people, including our veterans, to see themselves as victims, even if so many of our countrymen are prone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/there-is-no-room-for-military-people-including-our-veterans-to-see/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [The Corps is in good hands, and it's been a privilege to serve with the Leathernecks. Now it's time to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/the-corps-is-in-good-hands-and-it-s-been-a-privilege-to-serve-with/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [We should not fight wars without a clearly defined end state... when you go to war, it can't be a half-step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/we-should-not-fight-wars-without-a-clearly-defined-end-state-when-you/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [It's very hard to live with yourself if you don't stick with your moral code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/it-s-very-hard-to-live-with-yourself-if-you-don-t-stick-with-your/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [There is no God-given right to victory on the battlefield. You win that through the skill and the devotion, the valor and the ferocity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/there-is-no-god-given-right-to-victory-on-the-battlefield-you-win/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [The most important 6 inches on the battlefield is between your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/the-most-important-6-inches-on-the-battlefield-is-between-your-ears/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [Now from a distance, I look back on what the Corps taught me: to think like men of action, and to act like men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/now-from-a-distance-i-look-back-on-what-the-corps-taught-me-to-think/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [Most people know nobody in the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/most-people-know-nobody-in-the-military/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/engage-your-brain-before-you-engage-your-weapon/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [It's not an easy course. It's not designed to be. We're not here to get you in touch with your inner child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/it-s-not-an-easy-course-it-s-not-designed-to-be-we-re-not-here-to-get/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [I don't have the best track record with quotes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/i-don-t-have-the-best-track-record-with-quotes/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/you-go-into-afghanistan-you-got-guys-who-slap-women-around-for-five/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [I've lived a very colorful life, and I've said some things, But not once have I taken them back, and I've never apologized for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/i-ve-lived-a-very-colorful-life-and-i-ve-said-some-things-but-not/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [I have never thought it necessary to patronize the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/i-have-never-thought-it-necessary-to-patronize-the-american-people/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [Basically, Islamic State is a combined al Qaeda and Lebanese Hezbollah on steroids, destabilizing the region, dissolving borders/changing the political geography in the Mid-east,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/basically-islamic-state-is-a-combined-al-qaeda-and-lebanese-hezbollah/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) [Explore all 87 Jim Mattis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In this age, I don't care how tactically or operationally brilliant you are: if you cannot create harmony - even vicious harmony - on the battlefield based on trust across service lines, across coalition and national lines, and across civilian/military lines, you need to go home, because your leadership is obsolete.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Mattis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/in-this-age-i-don-t-care-how-tactically-or-operationally-brilliant/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Age" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/in-this-age-i-don-t-care-how-tactically-or-operationally-brilliant/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/jim-mattis-7799_age_in-this-age-i-don-t-care-how-tactically_475555.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/jim-mattis-7799_age_in-this-age-i-don-t-care-how-tactically_475555.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/jim-mattis-7799_age_in-this-age-i-don-t-care-how-tactically_475555.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In this age, I don't care how tactically or operationally brilliant you are: if you cannot create harmony…” — Jim Mattis", "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": "Jim Mattis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In this age, I don't care...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/in-this-age-i-don-t-care-how-tactically-or-operationally-brilliant/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/in-this-age-i-don-t-care-how-tactically-or-operationally-brilliant/#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 } } ] } ```