--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It takes a hundred times more skill to…" description: "\"It takes a hundred times more skill to make love than to command an army.\" — Ninon de L'Enclos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_army_it-takes-a-hundred-times-more-skill-to-m_2918826.png" --- # It takes a hundred times more skill to make love than to… ![“It takes a hundred times more skill to make love than to command an army.” quote by Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_army_it-takes-a-hundred-times-more-skill-to-m_2918826.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_army_it-takes-a-hundred-times-more-skill-to-m_2918826.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_army_it-takes-a-hundred-times-more-skill-to-m_2918826.png) > “It takes a hundred times more skill to make love than to command an army.” [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love requires far more skill than commanding armies. **In simple terms:** Love is harder than leading troops. Key Takeaway Cultivate love with patience and skill. Themes love skill conflict Mood thoughtful romantic Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - leadership training - negotiations Key Concepts psychology history Questions to Reflect On - How does love differ from authority? - What skills overlap? A Different Perspective War demands different skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Better not to give in to it. It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finnick-odair-mockingjay/better-not-to-give-in-to-it-it-takes-ten-times-as-long-to-put/) Finnick Odair Mockingjay > [It takes ten times longer to get rid of your reputation than it does to make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-reatard/it-takes-ten-times-longer-to-get-rid-of-your-reputation-than-it-does/) [Jay Reatard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-reatard/) > [It takes ten times longer to put yourself back together than it does to fall apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-ten-times-longer-to-put-yourself-back-together-than-it-does/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together again as it does to fall apart. ~Finnick”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-takes-ten-times-as-long-to-put-yourself-back-together-again-as-it/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-takes-ten-times-as-long-to-put-yourself-back-together-as-it-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Love is a command, not just a feeling. Somehow, in the romantic world of music and theater we have made love to be what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/love-is-a-command-not-just-a-feeling-somehow-in-the-romantic-world-of/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Love is a command that should be mandatory for every single human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/love-is-a-command-that-should-be-mandatory-for-every-single-human/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Love is a command to rise to one's highest potential ... the best and noblest vision of ourselves. Love is a reward. The greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/love-is-a-command-to-rise-to-one-s-highest-potential-the-best-and/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [He who dares not follow Love's command errs greatly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-dares-not-follow-love-s-command-errs-greatly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Rule101 Never pretend to a love, which you do not actually feel, for love is not yours to command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coldheart/rule101-never-pretend-to-a-love-which-you-do-not-actually-feel-for/) [Coldheart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coldheart/) > [Ah, how skillful grows the hand That obeyeth Love's command! It is the heart, and not the brain, That to the highest doth attain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/ah-how-skillful-grows-the-hand-that-obeyeth-love-s-command-it-is-the/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Never pretend to a love which you do not actually feel, for love is not ours to command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/never-pretend-to-a-love-which-you-do-not-actually-feel-for-love-is/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > ["Love one another": No command is simpler; no command more difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hart/love-one-another-no-command-is-simpler-no-command-more-difficult/) [Mark Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hart/) > [For love, is not our's to command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-yunusa/for-love-is-not-our-s-to-command/) [Mohammed Yunusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-yunusa/) > [We can't command our love, but we can command our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/we-can-t-command-our-love-but-we-can-command-our-actions/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) ## More by Ninon de L'Enclos > [A woman is more influenced by what she divines than by what she is told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-is-more-influenced-by-what-she-divines-than-by-what-she-is/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [The resistance of a woman is not always a proof of her virtue, but more frequently of her experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/the-resistance-of-a-woman-is-not-always-a-proof-of-her-virtue-but/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [One must choose between loving women and knowing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/one-must-choose-between-loving-women-and-knowing-them/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Equality is the share of every one at their advent upon earth, and equality is also theirs when placed beneath it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/equality-is-the-share-of-every-one-at-their-advent-upon-earth-and/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Novelty is the storehouse of pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/novelty-is-the-storehouse-of-pleasure/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Hatred is nearly always honest--rarely, if ever, assumed. So much cannot be said for love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/hatred-is-nearly-always-honest-rarely-if-ever-assumed-so-much-cannot/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [A woman should not take a lover without the consent of her heart, nor a husband without the consent of her reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-should-not-take-a-lover-without-the-consent-of-her-heart-nor/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Wit is a dangerous talent in friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/wit-is-a-dangerous-talent-in-friendship/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [When our desires are fulfilled, we never fail to realize the wealth of imagination and the paucity of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/when-our-desires-are-fulfilled-we-never-fail-to-realize-the-wealth-of/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [A cunning woman is her own mistress because she confides in no one. She who deceives others anticipates deceit, and guards herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-cunning-woman-is-her-own-mistress-because-she-confides-in-no-one/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [If a man needs a religion to conduct himself properly in this world, it is a sign that he has either a limited mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-himself-properly-in-this-world/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [The joy of the mind is the measure of its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/the-joy-of-the-mind-is-the-measure-of-its-strength/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Gossip, like ennui, is born of idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/gossip-like-ennui-is-born-of-idleness/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [There is a certain time of life, when we value a good stomach more than the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/there-is-a-certain-time-of-life-when-we-value-a-good-stomach-more/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/today-a-new-sun-rises-for-me-everything-lives-everything-is-animated/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) [Explore all 61 Ninon de L'Enclos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It takes a hundred times more skill to make love than to command an army.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ninon de L'Enclos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/it-takes-a-hundred-times-more-skill-to-make-love-than-to-command-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Army" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/it-takes-a-hundred-times-more-skill-to-make-love-than-to-command-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_army_it-takes-a-hundred-times-more-skill-to-m_2918826.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_army_it-takes-a-hundred-times-more-skill-to-m_2918826.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_army_it-takes-a-hundred-times-more-skill-to-m_2918826.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It takes a hundred times more skill to make love than to command an army.” — Ninon de L'Enclos", "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": "Ninon de L'Enclos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It takes a hundred times more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/it-takes-a-hundred-times-more-skill-to-make-love-than-to-command-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/it-takes-a-hundred-times-more-skill-to-make-love-than-to-command-an/#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 } } ] } ```