--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: mission as overkill, which threatened to…" description: "\"“mission as overkill, which threatened to derail the entire operation. Just before the launch of the operation”\" — Marc Ambinder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/marc-ambinder-96437_goals_mission-as-overkill-which-threatened-to_584817.jpg" --- # mission as overkill, which threatened to derail the entire… ![“mission as overkill, which threatened to derail the entire operation. Just before the launch of the operation” quote by Marc Ambinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/marc-ambinder-96437_goals_mission-as-overkill-which-threatened-to_584817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/marc-ambinder-96437_goals_mission-as-overkill-which-threatened-to_584817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/marc-ambinder-96437_goals_mission-as-overkill-which-threatened-to_584817.jpg) > ““mission as overkill, which threatened to derail the entire operation. Just before the launch of the operation”” [Marc Ambinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ambinder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overly ambitious goals can jeopardize an operation, especially when they become excessive. **In simple terms:** Too much ambition can derail plans. Key Takeaway Set realistic, focused goals. Themes strategy mission planning overextension risk management Mood cautious strategic Type analysis advisory When to use this quote - military campaigns - corporate launches - product rollouts Key Concepts military studies project management organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - What is the optimal scope for your mission? - How to balance ambition and practicality? A Different Perspective Excessive caution can also stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Entire Operation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entire-operation-4799534/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Launch Operation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/launch-operation-4799533/) [Mission Overkill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission-overkill-4799531/) [Overkill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overkill/) [Overkill Threatened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overkill-threatened-4799532/) ## Related quotes > [“Multiple closets for different needs. Overkill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/multiple-closets-for-different-needs-overkill/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [Personally, I think tying garbage bags around your head and hands is overkill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-winchell/personally-i-think-tying-garbage-bags-around-your-head-and-hands-is/) [April Winchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-winchell/) > [“It's not a sign of creativity to have sixty-five ideas for one problem. It's just a waste of energy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-kaplicky/it-s-not-a-sign-of-creativity-to-have-sixty-five-ideas-for-one/) [Jan Kaplicky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-kaplicky/) > [The rules of the game must be constantly updated to keep up with the expanding technology. Otherwise we overkill the classic climbs and delude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvon-chouinard/the-rules-of-the-game-must-be-constantly-updated-to-keep-up-with-the/) [Yvon Chouinard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvon-chouinard/) > [“We would go down to the Tenderloin. Pimps beware. I was bringing the Master as backup. It was like carrying a thermonuclear device to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/we-would-go-down-to-the-tenderloin-pimps-beware-i-was-bringing-the/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I've learned not to put thoughts on overkill, unless they are positive and/or creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/i-ve-learned-not-to-put-thoughts-on-overkill-unless-they-are-positive/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [“Against anything human, more than one round to the head would be overkill: When the merely mortal goes up against the supernatural, there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/against-anything-human-more-than-one-round-to-the-head-would-be/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“You do know what we’re dealing with here, don’t you?” I ask. “She’s not just a ghost. She’s a hurricane. Overkill is fine by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendare-blake/you-do-know-what-we-re-dealing-with-here-don-t-you-i-ask-she-s-not/) [Kendare Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendare-blake/) > [“Maxim 37: There is no "overkill." There is only "open fire" and "reload." -The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-tayler/maxim-37-there-is-no-overkill-there-is-only-open-fire-and-reload-the/) [Howard Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-tayler/) > [We often ask, "Do we have enough humans?" Because it's always fun to come up with an animal in show, but it begins to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/we-often-ask-do-we-have-enough-humans-because-it-s-always-fun-to-come/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [That's part of the problem, the overkill. And when they make it complicated, they make it expensive and so then you can no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/that-s-part-of-the-problem-the-overkill-and-when-they-make-it/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [Yeah? Can you draw a skeleton riding a motorcycle with flames coming out of it? And I want a pirate hat on the skeleton.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/yeah-can-you-draw-a-skeleton-riding-a-motorcycle-with-flames-coming/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I love overkill - I'm nothing if not dramatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-love-overkill-i-m-nothing-if-not-dramatic/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [That's sort of overkill. We've had 70 years of the Ryder Cup, and it's gotten along just fine. The pendulum will swing back without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/that-s-sort-of-overkill-we-ve-had-70-years-of-the-ryder-cup-and-it-s/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Joseph Zawinul does overkill, and his technological overkill sucks, but there's no friction between us; I just say, 'Look,' and that's it. Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/joseph-zawinul-does-overkill-and-his-technological-overkill-sucks-but/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) ## More by Marc Ambinder > [“the National Missions Force, a title that was suggested by a Pentagon consultant to give people an unclassified way”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ambinder/the-national-missions-force-a-title-that-was-suggested-by-a-pentagon/) [Marc Ambinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ambinder/) [Explore all 2 Marc Ambinder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ambinder/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“mission as overkill, which threatened to derail the entire operation. 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