--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was lucky enough to lead a very…" description: "\"I was lucky enough to lead a very successful war.\" — Norman Schwarzkopf" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/norman-schwarzkopf-6969_enough_i-was-lucky-enough-to-lead-a-very-succes_2585495.jpg" --- # I was lucky enough to lead a very successful war. ![“I was lucky enough to lead a very successful war.” quote by Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/norman-schwarzkopf-6969_enough_i-was-lucky-enough-to-lead-a-very-succes_2585495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/norman-schwarzkopf-6969_enough_i-was-lucky-enough-to-lead-a-very-succes_2585495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/norman-schwarzkopf-6969_enough_i-was-lucky-enough-to-lead-a-very-succes_2585495.jpg) > “I was lucky enough to lead a very successful war.” [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leading a successful war requires skill, luck, and circumstances. **In simple terms:** Winning a war involves skill and luck. Key Takeaway Recognize both effort and fortune. Themes leadership military success Mood proud thoughtful Type historical motivational When to use this quote - military planning - career reflection - historical analysis Key Concepts strategy probability chance Questions to Reflect On - What role did luck play in your achievements? - How can leaders prepare for unpredictable factors? A Different Perspective Luck is unpredictable; success isn’t solely controllable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I like to say I'm not a hero. I was lucky enough to lead a very successful war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/i-like-to-say-i-m-not-a-hero-i-was-lucky-enough-to-lead-a-very/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [I'm lucky enough to lead a very active life, so I'm always on the go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/i-m-lucky-enough-to-lead-a-very-active-life-so-i-m-always-on-the-go/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [I hoped that I would be a lead in my career; of course that was a hope of mine. But I never thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-condor/i-hoped-that-i-would-be-a-lead-in-my-career-of-course-that-was-a-hope/) [Lana Condor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-condor/) > [The most successful war seldom pays for its losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-most-successful-war-seldom-pays-for-its-losses/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Medieval England was a great military power with a sophisticated machinery of government, but her naval administration, at best improvised and for long periods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-rodger/medieval-england-was-a-great-military-power-with-a-sophisticated/) [Nicholas Rodger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-rodger/) > [If you accept by heart that things happen for a cause ,you'll lead a successful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/if-you-accept-by-heart-that-things-happen-for-a-cause-you-ll-lead-a/) Senoraroy > [I have great confidence in Rick Caruso's unique qualifications and his ability to lead a successful bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-have-great-confidence-in-rick-caruso-s-unique-qualifications-and/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [“Leaders are never measured by their success but rather by the success of those they've been entrusted to lead. Therefore, a leader can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-cagle/leaders-are-never-measured-by-their-success-but-rather-by-the-success/) Greg Cagle > [Mr. Tyler acquired Texas by voluntary compact, and Mr. Polk California and New Mexico by successful war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/mr-tyler-acquired-texas-by-voluntary-compact-and-mr-polk-california/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [We have to realize that this country in its private sector has been fighting the most successful war on poverty the world has seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-have-to-realize-that-this-country-in-its-private-sector-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The first step in having any successful war is getting people to fight it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/the-first-step-in-having-any-successful-war-is-getting-people-to/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [The triumph of the industrial arts will advance the cause of civilization more rapidly than its warmest advocates could have hoped, and contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-babbage/the-triumph-of-the-industrial-arts-will-advance-the-cause-of/) [Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/) > [“one of the ways to be successful in war is to make your enemies make all the gallant but useless sacrifices…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-e-modesitt-jr/one-of-the-ways-to-be-successful-in-war-is-to-make-your-enemies-make/) [L.E. Modesitt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-e-modesitt-jr/) > [War means fighting. The business of the soldier is to fight. ... To move swiftly, strike vigorously, and secure all the fruits of victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stonewall-jackson/war-means-fighting-the-business-of-the-soldier-is-to-fight-to-move/) [Stonewall Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stonewall-jackson/) > [A wise minister would rather preserve peace than gain a victory, because he knows that even the most successful war leaves nations generally more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-wise-minister-would-rather-preserve-peace-than-gain-a-victory/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## More by Norman Schwarzkopf > [War is a profane thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/war-is-a-profane-thing/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [I am an environmentalist, but I'm not a wacko environmentalist. I believe that mankind and nature can live side-by-side for the mutual benefit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/i-am-an-environmentalist-but-i-m-not-a-wacko-environmentalist-i/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [Fish are a renewable resource, and one of the problems we've had is people feel obliged to catch the limit, then throw 'em in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/fish-are-a-renewable-resource-and-one-of-the-problems-we-ve-had-is/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [You can't help someone get up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/you-can-t-help-someone-get-up-a-hill-without-getting-closer-to-the/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [Tanks being deployed far forward is an indication of offensive action; tanks in depth is an indication of defensive action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/tanks-being-deployed-far-forward-is-an-indication-of-offensive-action/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [It's nice to feel that you have a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/it-s-nice-to-feel-that-you-have-a-purpose/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [If it had been our intention to take Iraq, if it had been our intention to destroy the country, if it had been our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/if-it-had-been-our-intention-to-take-iraq-if-it-had-been-our/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [For the entire first part of my career, I prided myself on being unflappable even in the most chaotic of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/for-the-entire-first-part-of-my-career-i-prided-myself-on-being/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [More than 200 ships from 13 nations conducted over 10,000 flawless intercepts, which formed a steel wall around the waters leading to Iraq. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/more-than-200-ships-from-13-nations-conducted-over-10-000-flawless/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [I believe that forgiving them is god's function, our job is to arrange the meeting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/i-believe-that-forgiving-them-is-god-s-function-our-job-is-to-arrange/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [I've got to tell you what, the soldier doesn't fight very hard for a leader who is going to shoot him, okay, on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/i-ve-got-to-tell-you-what-the-soldier-doesn-t-fight-very-hard-for-a/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [I do not want to be a pawn in a political campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/i-do-not-want-to-be-a-pawn-in-a-political-campaign/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [“Success is sweet, but the secret is sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/success-is-sweet-but-the-secret-is-sweat/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [When I fish, I stop thinking about anything else. But truth be told, if you want to declare victories, I can tell you the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/when-i-fish-i-stop-thinking-about-anything-else-but-truth-be-told-if/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/it-takes-a-hero-to-be-one-of-those-men-who-goes-into-battle/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) [Explore all 96 Norman Schwarzkopf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) ## More Enough quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. 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Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I've been lucky enough to, for the most part, surround myself with a lot of people who are more talented than me and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-for-the-most-part-surround-myself-with-a/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) Rena Kornreich Gelissen > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. 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