--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In such a beast as this...\" (he means the…" description: "\"“In such a beast as this...\" (he means the army)\"...it was the collective power that went, collapsing like a long-exhausted animal, at once falling und..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/paul-hoffman-8370_animals_in-such-a-beast-as-this-he-means-the-arm_1120027.jpg" --- # In such a beast as this..." (he means the army)"...it was… ![“In such a beast as this..." (he means the army)"...it was the collective power that went, collapsing like a long-exhausted animal, at once falling under its own weight as much as that of its enemy. It was a collective death and not a matter of bravery or even strength, and once it was down it was…” quote by Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/paul-hoffman-8370_animals_in-such-a-beast-as-this-he-means-the-arm_1120027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/paul-hoffman-8370_animals_in-such-a-beast-as-this-he-means-the-arm_1120027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/paul-hoffman-8370_animals_in-such-a-beast-as-this-he-means-the-arm_1120027.jpg) > ““In such a beast as this..." (he means the army)"...it was the collective power that went, collapsing like a long-exhausted animal, at once falling under its own weight as much as that of its enemy. It was a collective death and not a matter of bravery or even strength, and once it was down it was finished as a battle.”” [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The army collapsed because its collective weight overwhelmed it, not due to bravery or strength, resulting in a collective death that ended the battle quickly **In simple terms:** A group can fail when its own mass becomes its downfall Key Takeaway Watch for over‑reliance on sheer numbers; balance strength with agility Themes team dynamics hub military strategy Mood tense reflective Type historical military When to use this quote - large‑scale battles - organizational overgrowth - team projects Key Concepts Collective failure mass collapse overextension Questions to Reflect On - How can a team maintain cohesion without becoming a burden? - What safeguards prevent collective collapse? A Different Perspective A single strong unit can still be defeated if the whole is unwieldy ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) [Bravery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [No matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-matter/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“The battle had been as hideous as you might expect between one side who were simply not afraid to die and another who regarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-battle-had-been-as-hideous-as-you-might-expect-between-one-side/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“...and what is a good weapon but a good idea made murderous flesh?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/and-what-is-a-good-weapon-but-a-good-idea-made-murderous-flesh/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“We are all cynics now, I suppose, and even a mewling infant knows that to save a life is to make an eternal enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/we-are-all-cynics-now-i-suppose-and-even-a-mewling-infant-knows-that/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Sometimes, war being the unjust and drastic creature it is, those in whom he invested hopes took an arrow in the chest, the useless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/sometimes-war-being-the-unjust-and-drastic-creature-it-is-those-in/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Whatever discoveries have been made in the land of self-delusion, many undiscovered regions remain to be explored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/whatever-discoveries-have-been-made-in-the-land-of-self-delusion-many/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“Occupation maybe means when army of another country enters our country and refuses to return to their country on one pretext or other. 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