--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why, it appears that we appointed all of…" description: "\"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/robert-e-lee-2368_army_why-it-appears-that-we-appointed-all-of_1876186.png" --- # Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst… ![“Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too…” quote by Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/robert-e-lee-2368_army_why-it-appears-that-we-appointed-all-of_1876186.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/robert-e-lee-2368_army_why-it-appears-that-we-appointed-all-of_1876186.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/robert-e-lee-2368_army_why-it-appears-that-we-appointed-all-of_1876186.png) > “Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper.” [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Best leaders are often journalists, while generals are poor at war. **In simple terms:** Good editors, bad generals. Key Takeaway Value editorial insight. Themes leadership media military Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical historical When to use this quote - political analysis - newsrooms - military planning Key Concepts strategic communication information bias Questions to Reflect On - Who should decide strategy? - How to balance media and command? A Different Perspective Not all editors lack battlefield skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Generals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generals/) [Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [We made a great mistake in the beginning of our struggle, and I fear, in spite of all we can do, it will prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-made-a-great-mistake-in-the-beginning-of-our-struggle-and-i-fear/) [Robert E. 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