--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A field marshal who issued orders to the…" description: "\"A field marshal who issued orders to the armed forces but had no idea of the results they would have in practice.\" — Wilhelm Keitel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/wilhelm-keitel-30744_armed-forces_a-field-marshal-who-issued-orders-to-the_2446437.jpg" --- # A field marshal who issued orders to the armed forces but… ![“A field marshal who issued orders to the armed forces but had no idea of the results they would have in practice.” quote by Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/wilhelm-keitel-30744_armed-forces_a-field-marshal-who-issued-orders-to-the_2446437.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/wilhelm-keitel-30744_armed-forces_a-field-marshal-who-issued-orders-to-the_2446437.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/wilhelm-keitel-30744_armed-forces_a-field-marshal-who-issued-orders-to-the_2446437.jpg) > “A field marshal who issued orders to the armed forces but had no idea of the results they would have in practice.” [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blind obedience to orders without understanding outcomes can cause disastrous consequences. **In simple terms:** Following orders blindly is risky. Key Takeaway Seek to understand the impact of directives. Themes authority responsibility military ethics Mood cautious serious Type historical reflective When to use this quote - military planning - policy implementation - organizational leadership Key Concepts Blind obedience strategic awareness Questions to Reflect On - When should you challenge a directive? - How can leaders foster informed compliance? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of dissent or critical analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Armed forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-forces/) [Field Marshal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/field-marshal-533109/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Marshal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marshal/) [Marshal Issued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marshal-issued-533110/) [No idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-idea/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Orders Armed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orders-armed-533111/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) ## Related quotes > [PRIVATE, n. A military gentleman with a field-marshal's baton in his knapsack and an impediment in his hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/private-n-a-military-gentleman-with-a-field-marshal-s-baton-in-his/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There is a great Field-Marshal, my friend, who arrays our battalions; Let us to Providence trust, and abide and work in our stations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hugh-clough/there-is-a-great-field-marshal-my-friend-who-arrays-our-battalions/) [Arthur Hugh Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hugh-clough/) > [“It was a “severe” disappointment to Henry Wilson who laid it all at the door of Kitchener and the Cabinet for having sent only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/it-was-a-severe-disappointment-to-henry-wilson-who-laid-it-all-at-the/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [When I was a kid I did marshal arts, and then I did all-star crazy competitive cheer and dance, and then I swam so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-greene/when-i-was-a-kid-i-did-marshal-arts-and-then-i-did-all-star-crazy/) [Ashley Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-greene/) > [We'll have to marshal our forces in Washington. It won't be easy. That doesn't mean it can't be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zev-yaroslavsky/we-ll-have-to-marshal-our-forces-in-washington-it-won-t-be-easy-that/) [Zev Yaroslavsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zev-yaroslavsky/) > [“Don’t you believe any man who makes you feel like you were just a one-time thing.” His arms tighten around me and his words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenn-wright/don-t-you-believe-any-man-who-makes-you-feel-like-you-were-just-a-one/) [Gwenn Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenn-wright/) > [I did quite a lot of menial jobs. I was a waiter, an inventory clerk touring round properties listing cups and saucers, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-did-quite-a-lot-of-menial-jobs-i-was-a-waiter-an-inventory-clerk/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [“Marshal Beria wasn't the type to sit and chat about nothing. Life was too short for that (and besides he was socially incompetent).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-jonasson/marshal-beria-wasn-t-the-type-to-sit-and-chat-about-nothing-life-was/) [Jonas Jonasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-jonasson/) > [Yeah, but I'll be working as a marshal. I'll be helping your team find all the balls they drive into the rough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seve-ballesteros/yeah-but-i-ll-be-working-as-a-marshal-i-ll-be-helping-your-team-find/) [Seve Ballesteros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seve-ballesteros/) > [“That sounds like the sin of pride, Marshal. Better run downstairs and let Miss December flog it out of you. Webcam it and charge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/that-sounds-like-the-sin-of-pride-marshal-better-run-downstairs-and/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [I don't think you should necessarily listen to a celebrity just because he is one. But if you can marshal your celebrity and really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reiner/i-don-t-think-you-should-necessarily-listen-to-a-celebrity-just/) [Rob Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reiner/) > [“Gabe leaned down, whispered in her ear. "The U.S. Marshal Service is at the top of the law-enforcement pecking order, outranking everyone, even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-clare/gabe-leaned-down-whispered-in-her-ear-the-u-s-marshal-service-is-at/) [Pamela Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-clare/) > [Maybe the artist becomes the marshal. It'd probably be a very different kind of society with artists in control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joelle-carter/maybe-the-artist-becomes-the-marshal-it-d-probably-be-a-very/) [Joelle Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joelle-carter/) > [“You're name is Marshal Dillon Duncun?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-roseau/you-re-name-is-marshal-dillon-duncun/) [Robin Roseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-roseau/) > [When I get an idea for a book, something appeals to me, it's usually a character. I'll see a picture of a female marshal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/when-i-get-an-idea-for-a-book-something-appeals-to-me-it-s-usually-a/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) ## More by Wilhelm Keitel > [It is tragic to have to realize that the best I had to give as a soldier, obedience, and loyalty, was exploited for purposes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/it-is-tragic-to-have-to-realize-that-the-best-i-had-to-give-as-a/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [Death by hanging. That, at least, I thought I would be spared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/death-by-hanging-that-at-least-i-thought-i-would-be-spared/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [I call on God Almighty to have mercy on the German people. More than two million German soldiers went to their death for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/i-call-on-god-almighty-to-have-mercy-on-the-german-people-more-than/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [I am a soldier and I worked for the kaiser, under Ebert, Hindenburg, and Hitler, all the same way, for the past 44 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/i-am-a-soldier-and-i-worked-for-the-kaiser-under-ebert-hindenburg-and/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [Consideration of any kind are a crime against the German people and the soldier at the front.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/consideration-of-any-kind-are-a-crime-against-the-german-people-and/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [Why did the generals who have been so ready to term me a complaisant and incompetent yes-man fail to secure my removal? Was that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/why-did-the-generals-who-have-been-so-ready-to-term-me-a-complaisant/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [Hitler gave us orders - and we believed in him. Then he commits suicide and leaves us to bear the guilt. He should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/hitler-gave-us-orders-and-we-believed-in-him-then-he-commits-suicide/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [I believe German soldiers are good and decent, and if they did anything wrong it was because of military necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/i-believe-german-soldiers-are-good-and-decent-and-if-they-did/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [If this war is not fought with the greatest brutality against the bands both in the East and in the Balkans then in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/if-this-war-is-not-fought-with-the-greatest-brutality-against-the/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [Hitler had charm, loved children, charmed women. But in political respects he would stop at nothing. In other respects he had soft and touching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/hitler-had-charm-loved-children-charmed-women-but-in-political/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [No matter what Hitler said, he spoke with a fine feeling for the particular circle which he addressed. ... He was a great psychologist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/no-matter-what-hitler-said-he-spoke-with-a-fine-feeling-for-the/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [If I had known it I would have told my son, I'd rather shoot you than let you join the SS. But I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/if-i-had-known-it-i-would-have-told-my-son-i-d-rather-shoot-you-than/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [This fight has nothing to do with soldierly gallantry or principles of the Geneva Convention. If the fight against the partisans is not waged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/this-fight-has-nothing-to-do-with-soldierly-gallantry-or-principles/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [The troops are therefore empowered and are in duty bound in this war to use without mitigation even against women and children any means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/the-troops-are-therefore-empowered-and-are-in-duty-bound-in-this-war/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) > [It isn't right to be obedient only when things go well; it is much harder to be a good, obedient soldier when things go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/it-isn-t-right-to-be-obedient-only-when-things-go-well-it-is-much/) [Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) [Explore all 17 Wilhelm Keitel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/) ## More Armed forces quotes > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [Recruitment and retention are critical to sustain our Armed Forces with the best men and women willing to stand in the gap and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/recruitment-and-retention-are-critical-to-sustain-our-armed-forces/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My father was in the military; he was a captain. His service was to quote-unquote integrate the Armed Forces overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/my-father-was-in-the-military-he-was-a-captain-his-service-was-to/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe that the Armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-pace/i-believe-that-homosexual-acts-between-individuals-are-immoral-and/) [Peter Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-pace/) > [“The highest ranking Russian intelligence officer to defect from Russia, Stanislav Lunev, testified at a Congressional hearing held in California in January, 2000. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/the-highest-ranking-russian-intelligence-officer-to-defect-from/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [A colonial war is a very dirty kind of war. You're not fighting armed forces. You're fighting mostly unarmed people. And to fight that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/a-colonial-war-is-a-very-dirty-kind-of-war-you-re-not-fighting-armed/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Scotland forms a crucial part of our Armed Forces which should not be jeopardised by rushed cuts or a rush to the exit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hammond/scotland-forms-a-crucial-part-of-our-armed-forces-which-should-not-be/) [Philip Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hammond/) > [The people of Iraq are grateful for what the people of the United States of America and our armed forces and our coalition forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-isakson/the-people-of-iraq-are-grateful-for-what-the-people-of-the-united/) [Johnny Isakson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-isakson/) > [I have deep respect for our armed forces and jawans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-kumaraswamy/i-have-deep-respect-for-our-armed-forces-and-jawans/) [H. D. Kumaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-kumaraswamy/) > [“The ultimate objective of all military operations is the destruction of the enemy’s armed forces and his will to fight.”\* This sums up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/the-ultimate-objective-of-all-military-operations-is-the-destruction/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [Relations between States, as between individuals, must be regulated not by armed force, but in accordance with...truth, justice and vigorous and sincere co-operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxiii/relations-between-states-as-between-individuals-must-be-regulated-not/) [Pope John XXIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxiii/) > [Word to the Nation: Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/word-to-the-nation-guard-zealously-your-right-to-serve-in-the-armed/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [If Congress grants permission, I would put armed forces in the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jair-bolsonaro/if-congress-grants-permission-i-would-put-armed-forces-in-the-streets/) [Jair Bolsonaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jair-bolsonaro/) > [To lead uninstructed people to war is to throw them away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-lead-uninstructed-people-to-war-is-to-throw-them-away/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Americans will forever be proud of the brave men and women of our armed forces who served in World War II, and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/americans-will-forever-be-proud-of-the-brave-men-and-women-of-our/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) [Browse all 342 Armed forces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-forces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A field marshal who issued orders to the armed forces but had no idea of the results they would have in practice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wilhelm Keitel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/a-field-marshal-who-issued-orders-to-the-armed-forces-but-had-no-idea/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Armed forces" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/a-field-marshal-who-issued-orders-to-the-armed-forces-but-had-no-idea/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/wilhelm-keitel-30744_armed-forces_a-field-marshal-who-issued-orders-to-the_2446437.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/wilhelm-keitel-30744_armed-forces_a-field-marshal-who-issued-orders-to-the_2446437.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/wilhelm-keitel-30744_armed-forces_a-field-marshal-who-issued-orders-to-the_2446437.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A field marshal who issued orders to the armed forces but had no idea of the results they would have in…” — Wilhelm Keitel", "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": "Wilhelm Keitel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A field marshal who issued orders...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/a-field-marshal-who-issued-orders-to-the-armed-forces-but-had-no-idea/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/a-field-marshal-who-issued-orders-to-the-armed-forces-but-had-no-idea/#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 } } ] } ```