Success Quote by Terry Pratchett
““He'd been a successful soldier, as these things went; he'd generally been on the winning side, and had killed more of the enemy by good if dull tactics than his own men by bad but exciting ones.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Guards! Guards! (Discworld series), 1989
The passage reflects on a soldier’s success being due to conventional tactics rather than bold, risky ones, highlighting the value of steady competence over flashy actions.
In simple terms: Success often comes from reliable, not daring, tactics.
Key Takeaway
Value consistent competence over flashiness.
Themes
strategy
competence
military
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
philosophical
strategic
When to use this quote
- career advice
- leadership training
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
tactical pragmatism
risk assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- When is boldness preferable to routine?
- How can one balance reliability with innovation?
A Different Perspective
It may undervalue innovative risk‑taking.
![“Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to…” quote by A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/a-r-rahman-4481_cutting_since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-o_539.jpg)