--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He'd been a successful soldier, as these…" description: "\"“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 tactic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/terry-pratchett-19_success_he-d-been-a-successful-soldier-as-these_1527220.jpg" --- # He'd been a successful soldier, as these things went; he'd… ![“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.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/terry-pratchett-19_success_he-d-been-a-successful-soldier-as-these_1527220.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/terry-pratchett-19_success_he-d-been-a-successful-soldier-as-these_1527220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/terry-pratchett-19_success_he-d-been-a-successful-soldier-as-these_1527220.jpg) > ““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.”” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“Perhaps that's why men did it. You didn't do it to save duchesses, or countries. You killed the enemy to stop him killing your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/perhaps-that-s-why-men-did-it-you-didn-t-do-it-to-save-duchesses-or/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I never killed anybody and I never developed an intense level of hatred for the enemy. Because my war ended before I ever put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/i-never-killed-anybody-and-i-never-developed-an-intense-level-of/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [Good flying never killed an enemy yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-mannock/good-flying-never-killed-an-enemy-yet/) Mick Mannock > [“This place sickened him. Anywhere else, you simply killed your enemy with a sword. Or poisoned him, if you had the honourless instincts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/this-place-sickened-him-anywhere-else-you-simply-killed-your-enemy/) [S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/) > [“When a man kills another man, the people say he is a murderer, but when the Emir kills him, the Emir is just. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/when-a-man-kills-another-man-the-people-say-he-is-a-murderer-but-when/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [To be a successful soldier, you must know history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-successful-soldier-you-must-know-history/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you put on the military uniform, you're a prima facie hero. Generals are the epitome of that. They're the ones who have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/if-you-put-on-the-military-uniform-you-re-a-prima-facie-hero-generals/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [To be a successful soldier you must know history. . . . What you must know is how man reacts. Weapons change but man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/to-be-a-successful-soldier-you-must-know-history-what-you-must-know/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [What can they see in the longest kingly line in Europe, save that it runs back to a successful soldier?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/what-can-they-see-in-the-longest-kingly-line-in-europe-save-that-it/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [In Israel, it always meant - and a lot of that is still true - there was only one kind of man you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eytan-fox/in-israel-it-always-meant-and-a-lot-of-that-is-still-true-there-was/) [Eytan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eytan-fox/) > [“I do not speak of that greatness which is achieved by the fortunate politician or the successful soldier; that is a quality which belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-do-not-speak-of-that-greatness-which-is-achieved-by-the-fortunate/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [It's sort of the American way to go up and down the ladder, maybe several times in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/it-s-sort-of-the-american-way-to-go-up-and-down-the-ladder-maybe/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Success quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [It's sort of the American way to go up and down the ladder, maybe several times in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/it-s-sort-of-the-american-way-to-go-up-and-down-the-ladder-maybe/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [“Success is for a man whose stories of sruggles and chalenges are inspirations to and up coming generation..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-sanaba-c/success-is-for-a-man-whose-stories-of-sruggles-and-chalenges-are/) Nelly sanaba .c > [If you hate yourself... The world will hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/if-you-hate-yourself-the-world-will-hate-you/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-a-habit-unfortunately-so-is-losing/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [I don't want easy success. It's boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep/i-don-t-want-easy-success-it-s-boring/) [Sudeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) [Browse all 41,540 Success quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-d-been-a-successful-soldier-as-these-things-went-he-d-generally/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Success" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-d-been-a-successful-soldier-as-these-things-went-he-d-generally/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/terry-pratchett-19_success_he-d-been-a-successful-soldier-as-these_1527220.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/terry-pratchett-19_success_he-d-been-a-successful-soldier-as-these_1527220.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/terry-pratchett-19_success_he-d-been-a-successful-soldier-as-these_1527220.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He'd been a successful soldier, as these things went; he'd generally been on the winning side, and had…” — Terry Pratchett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Terry Pratchett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“He'd been a successful soldier, as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-d-been-a-successful-soldier-as-these-things-went-he-d-generally/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-d-been-a-successful-soldier-as-these-things-went-he-d-generally/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```