Freedom Quote by Martin Van Creveld
““Though Moltke was working with subordinates who were totally lacking in comprehension for whatever strategic plans he may have entertained and who on occasion abused the independence granted them, those plans were sufficiently flexible to accommodate errors; that is, a large safety margin was left to ensure that mistakes would not develop into catastrophes.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Art of War in the Modern World, 1991
Flexible plans with safety margins prevent small errors from becoming disasters
In simple terms: Plan flexibly, allow for mistakes
Key Takeaway
Build resilient strategies
Themes
military strategy
risk management
leadership
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
strategic
educational
When to use this quote
- business
- military operations
- project management
- emergency response
Key Concepts
contingency planning
systems thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you set appropriate safety margins?
- When is rigidity preferable?
A Different Perspective
Over‑flexibility may cause indecision
