--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My generals are a parcel of post…" description: "\"My generals are a parcel of post inspectors.\" — Napoleon Bonaparte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_generals_my-generals-are-a-parcel-of-post-inspect_2369874.jpg" --- # My generals are a parcel of post inspectors. ![“My generals are a parcel of post inspectors.” quote by Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_generals_my-generals-are-a-parcel-of-post-inspect_2369874.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_generals_my-generals-are-a-parcel-of-post-inspect_2369874.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_generals_my-generals-are-a-parcel-of-post-inspect_2369874.jpg) > “My generals are a parcel of post inspectors.” [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He compares his generals to post inspectors, implying they are bureaucratic, meticulous, and perhaps overly concerned with paperwork. **In simple terms:** Generals act like inspectors. Key Takeaway Beware bureaucratic leadership. Themes leadership bureaucracy military management Mood critical analytical historical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - military planning - administrative oversight - policy implementation - team management - strategic reviews Key Concepts history organizational theory politics Questions to Reflect On - How does bureaucracy affect command effectiveness? - What balance between oversight and agility is needed? A Different Perspective Excessive bureaucracy can hinder decisive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generals/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Email is good but parcel & post are better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/email-is-good-but-parcel-post-are-better/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Whenever I send a book by parcel post and the clerk at the post office asks me, "Is there anything dangerous in the package?",…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/los-angeles-dave-zobel-california/whenever-i-send-a-book-by-parcel-post-and-the-clerk-at-the-post/) Los Angeles Dave Zobel California > [Generals who save troops for the next day are always beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/generals-who-save-troops-for-the-next-day-are-always-beaten/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Soldiers win battles and generals get the medals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/soldiers-win-battles-and-generals-get-the-medals/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I made all my generals out of mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/i-made-all-my-generals-out-of-mud/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The best generals are those who have served in the artillery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-best-generals-are-those-who-have-served-in-the-artillery/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Soldiers generally win battles; generals get credit for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/soldiers-generally-win-battles-generals-get-credit-for-them/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [There are in Europe many good generals, but they see too many things at once. I see one thing, namely the enemy's main body.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/there-are-in-europe-many-good-generals-but-they-see-too-many-things/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Generals are not to be too scrupulous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/generals-are-not-to-be-too-scrupulous/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [If the U.N. secretary-general withdraws the inspectors from Baghdad ... this means that the secretary-general has abandoned its own responsibility in maintaining peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naji-sabri/if-the-u-n-secretary-general-withdraws-the-inspectors-from-baghdad/) [Naji Sabri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naji-sabri/) > [It would not be possible for Noah to do in our day what he was permitted to do in his own ... 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I think what will happen is we'll discover people who will tell us where to go find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-think-we-ll-discover-anything-myself-i-think-what-will-happen/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [With human inspectors, it's difficult to get even the same person to make consistent judgments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ng/with-human-inspectors-it-s-difficult-to-get-even-the-same-person-to/) [Andrew Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ng/) ## More by Napoleon Bonaparte > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Men grow old quickly on the battlefield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-grow-old-quickly-on-the-battlefield/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-only-victories-which-leave-no-regret-are-those-which-are-gained/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/when-a-government-is-dependent-upon-bankers-for-money-they-and-not/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [All becomes easy when we follow the current of opinion; it is the ruler of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/all-becomes-easy-when-we-follow-the-current-of-opinion-it-is-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-bullet-that-will-kill-me-is-not-yet-cast/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reputation is a great noise, the more there is of it, and the further does it swell. 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A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/mcclellan-knew-that-jackson-s-force-was-relatively-small-so-he-only/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [Generals who can write always make me nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bradlee/generals-who-can-write-always-make-me-nervous/) [Ben Bradlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bradlee/) > [As the First World War made painfully clear, when politicians and generals lead nations into war, they almost invariably assume swift victory, and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hochschild/as-the-first-world-war-made-painfully-clear-when-politicians-and/) [Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hochschild/) > [“There had been reports in recent days that Trump wanted a general to manage his office; generals appeal to him, perhaps because he believes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-davidson-sorkin/there-had-been-reports-in-recent-days-that-trump-wanted-a-general-to/) Amy Davidson Sorkin > [All through history it's the nations that have given most to generals and the least to the people that have been the first to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-through-history-it-s-the-nations-that-have-given-most-to-generals/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Around the world, the generals are being ousted, and the poets are taking charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/around-the-world-the-generals-are-being-ousted-and-the-poets-are/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [A defensive war is apt to betray us into too frequent detachment. Those generals who have had but little experience attempt to protect every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-ii-holy-roman-emperor/a-defensive-war-is-apt-to-betray-us-into-too-frequent-detachment/) [Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-ii-holy-roman-emperor/) > [ One of the things I would immediately do \[as Commander in Chief \], in addition to defeating them here at home, is bring back… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/one-of-the-things-i-would-immediately-do-as-commander-in-chief-in/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [It is tragic that the Fuehrer should have the whole nation behind him with the single exception of the Army generals. In my opinion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-jodl/it-is-tragic-that-the-fuehrer-should-have-the-whole-nation-behind-him/) [Alfred Jodl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-jodl/) > [“Hullo, commandant,' I said, 'how's the General?' 'Which general?' he asked with a shy grin. 'Surely in the Caodaist faith,' I said, 'all generals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/hullo-commandant-i-said-how-s-the-general-which-general-he-asked-with/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [Great captains of industry are as rare as great generals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/great-captains-of-industry-are-as-rare-as-great-generals/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [Generals are not to be too scrupulous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/generals-are-not-to-be-too-scrupulous/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) [Browse all 143 Generals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My generals are a parcel of post inspectors.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Bonaparte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-generals-are-a-parcel-of-post-inspectors/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Generals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-generals-are-a-parcel-of-post-inspectors/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_generals_my-generals-are-a-parcel-of-post-inspect_2369874.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_generals_my-generals-are-a-parcel-of-post-inspect_2369874.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e9/napoleon-bonaparte-206_generals_my-generals-are-a-parcel-of-post-inspect_2369874.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My generals are a parcel of post inspectors.” — Napoleon Bonaparte", "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": "Napoleon Bonaparte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My generals are a parcel of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-generals-are-a-parcel-of-post-inspectors/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-generals-are-a-parcel-of-post-inspectors/#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 } } ] } ```