---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reconnaissance memoranda should always be…"
description: "\"Reconnaissance memoranda should always be written in the simplest style and be purely descriptive. They should never stray from their objective by intr..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/193/napoleon-bonaparte-206_communication_reconnaissance-memoranda-should-always-b_290563.jpg"
---

#  Reconnaissance memoranda should always be written in the…

![“Reconnaissance memoranda should always be written in the simplest style and be purely descriptive. They should never stray from their objective by introducing extraneous ideas.” quote by Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/193/napoleon-bonaparte-206_communication_reconnaissance-memoranda-should-always-b_290563.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/193/napoleon-bonaparte-206_communication_reconnaissance-memoranda-should-always-b_290563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/193/napoleon-bonaparte-206_communication_reconnaissance-memoranda-should-always-b_290563.jpg)

> “Reconnaissance memoranda should always be written in the simplest style and be purely descriptive. They should never stray from their objective by introducing extraneous ideas.”

[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.

Clear, objective reporting demands plain language and factual description without personal interpretation.

**In simple terms:** Write plainly and stick to facts.

Key Takeaway

Focus on factual clarity.

Themes

communication military clarity

Mood

formal pragmatic

Type

instructional procedural

When to use this quote

- battlefield reports
- intelligence briefs
- logistics updates

Key Concepts

objective reporting concise style

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you ensure completeness while staying simple?
- When is detail essential?

A Different Perspective

May omit nuance needed for complex analysis.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Introducing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introducing/) [Memoranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoranda-1027648/) [Memoranda Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoranda-written-2796107/) [Objectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectives/) [Project management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/project-management/) [Purely Descriptive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purely-descriptive-2796110/) [Reconnaissance Memoranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reconnaissance-memoranda-2796108/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Simplest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplest/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Written Simplest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-simplest-2796109/)

## Related quotes

> [Are you laboring under the impression that I read these memoranda of yours? I can't even lift them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/are-you-laboring-under-the-impression-that-i-read-these-memoranda-of/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [The entire world is a collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/the-entire-world-is-a-collection-of-memoranda-that-she-did-exist-and/)

[Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/)

> [“The success of project greatly dependent on periodic visualization of outcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhupesh-b-patil/the-success-of-project-greatly-dependent-on-periodic-visualization-of/)

[Bhupesh B. Patil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhupesh-b-patil/)

> [I could see the fruition of certain projects that are as creative intellectually as they are viable commercially. I'm going to throw myself into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alina-khadgi/i-could-see-the-fruition-of-certain-projects-that-are-as-creative/)

[Alina Khadgi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alina-khadgi/)

> [Virtually every company will be going out and empowering their workers with a certain set of tools, and the big difference in how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/virtually-every-company-will-be-going-out-and-empowering-their/)

[Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/)

> [The world does not need a better definition of issues, or better planning or project management. It needs the issues and the plans to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-block/the-world-does-not-need-a-better-definition-of-issues-or-better/)

[Peter Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-block/)

> [An intelligent person armed with a checklist is no substitute for experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-gumz/an-intelligent-person-armed-with-a-checklist-is-no-substitute-for/)

[Joy Gumz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-gumz/)

> [Nobody knows how Honda is organized, except that it uses lots of project teams and is quite flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenichi-ohmae/nobody-knows-how-honda-is-organized-except-that-it-uses-lots-of/)

[Kenichi Ohmae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenichi-ohmae/)

> [“Project managers operate in a global environment and work on projects characterized by cultural diversity. Team members often have diverse industry experience, know multiple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/project-managers-operate-in-a-global-environment-and-work-on-projects/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Event management is the same as for any project, the project plan needs to include an appropriate change control process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-treasure/event-management-is-the-same-as-for-any-project-the-project-plan/)

[Brenda Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-treasure/)

> [Skills can be learned while experience must be earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-gumz/skills-can-be-learned-while-experience-must-be-earned/)

[Joy Gumz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-gumz/)

> [“many software companies now deploy the Scrum project management methodology, which replaces a lot of this ad hoc messaging with regular, highly structured, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/many-software-companies-now-deploy-the-scrum-project-management/)

[Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/)

> [Trying to manage a project without project management is like trying to play a football game without a game plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trying-to-manage-a-project-without-project-management-is-like-trying/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Greg Aloi Singapore Business Process Depending on the business, the business process specialist may be required to do more than assess and provide solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/greg-aloi-singapore-business-process-depending-on-the-business-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Once you start something don't stop until you complete it. Don't let excuses, problems, hard work or anything stop you from completing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/once-you-start-something-don-t-stop-until-you-complete-it-don-t-let/)

[Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/)

## 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. Land, monuments, Nations, all fall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reputation-is-a-great-noise-the-more-there-is-of-it-and-the/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [Character is victory organized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/character-is-victory-organized/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [Republican despotism is more fertile in acts of tyranny, because everyone has a hand in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/republican-despotism-is-more-fertile-in-acts-of-tyranny-because/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [My decision to destroy the authority of the blacks in Saint Domingue (Haiti) is not so much based on considerations of commerce and money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-decision-to-destroy-the-authority-of-the-blacks-in-saint-domingue/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [The army is the true nobility of our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-army-is-the-true-nobility-of-our-country/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [There is only one favorable moment in war; talent consists in knowing how to seize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/there-is-only-one-favorable-moment-in-war-talent-consists-in-knowing/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [A great reserve and severity of manners are necessary for the command of those who are older than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reserve-and-severity-of-manners-are-necessary-for-the-command/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

[Explore all 914 Napoleon Bonaparte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

## More Communication quotes

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/)

[John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/)

> [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/)

[Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/)

> [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/)

[Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/)

[Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/)

[Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/)

> [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/)

[Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/)

> [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/)

[Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/)

> [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/)

[Yoram Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoram-wind/)

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

[Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Reconnaissance memoranda should always be written in the simplest style and be purely descriptive. They should never stray from their objective by introducing extraneous ideas.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Napoleon Bonaparte"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/reconnaissance-memoranda-should-always-be-written-in-the-simplest/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Communication"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/reconnaissance-memoranda-should-always-be-written-in-the-simplest/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/193/napoleon-bonaparte-206_communication_reconnaissance-memoranda-should-always-b_290563.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/193/napoleon-bonaparte-206_communication_reconnaissance-memoranda-should-always-b_290563.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/193/napoleon-bonaparte-206_communication_reconnaissance-memoranda-should-always-b_290563.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Reconnaissance memoranda should always be written in the simplest style and be purely descriptive. They…” — 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": "Reconnaissance memoranda should always be written...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/reconnaissance-memoranda-should-always-be-written-in-the-simplest/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/reconnaissance-memoranda-should-always-be-written-in-the-simplest/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
