--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, it was war - I could not have…" description: "\"Well, it was war - I could not have carried on as an administrative officer if I had let myself be swayed emotionally by my feelings.\" — Oswald Pohl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/oswald-pohl-60877_administrative_well-it-was-war-i-could-not-have-carried_1965165.jpg" --- # Well, it was war - I could not have carried on as an… ![“Well, it was war - I could not have carried on as an administrative officer if I had let myself be swayed emotionally by my feelings.” quote by Oswald Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/oswald-pohl-60877_administrative_well-it-was-war-i-could-not-have-carried_1965165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/oswald-pohl-60877_administrative_well-it-was-war-i-could-not-have-carried_1965165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/oswald-pohl-60877_administrative_well-it-was-war-i-could-not-have-carried_1965165.jpg) > “Well, it was war - I could not have carried on as an administrative officer if I had let myself be swayed emotionally by my feelings.” [Oswald Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-pohl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believed emotional detachment was essential for effective administrative leadership in wartime. **In simple terms:** Emotions must not cloud duty. Key Takeaway Prioritize duty over feelings. Themes leadership war emotional control Mood stern reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - military command - government administration - crisis decision making Key Concepts bureaucracy military ethics Questions to Reflect On - Can leaders remain effective without empathy? - What are the costs of emotional detachment? A Different Perspective Emotional suppression can erode morale and humanity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Officers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officers/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The Church, however, is a self-governing society, distinct from the State, having its officers and laws, and, therefore, an administrative government of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/the-church-however-is-a-self-governing-society-distinct-from-the/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [“It was my turn to stand at the foremast-head; and with my shoulders leaning against the slackened royal shrouds, to and fro I swayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/it-was-my-turn-to-stand-at-the-foremast-head-and-with-my-shoulders/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Even the charities I give to are related to things that touch my life, like the Special Olympics. 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