19th century Quote by Neil Sheehan
“World War II had been such a tremendous success story for this country that the political and military leadership began to assume that they would prevail simply because of who they were. We were like the British at the turn of the 19th century.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “A Bright Shining Lie” by Neil Sheehan, 1988
Overconfidence from past victories can blind leaders to reality, leading to disastrous decisions.
In simple terms: Past success can create dangerous overconfidence.
Question assumptions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- military planning
- education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we avoid repeating past mistakes?
- What checks can prevent hubris?
Success does not guarantee future outcomes.