--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The trouble with military rule is that…" description: "\"The trouble with military rule is that every colonel or general is soon full of ambition. The navy takes over today and the army tomorrow.\" — Yakubu Gowon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26e/yakubu-gowon-75291_ambition_the-trouble-with-military-rule-is-that-e_1033300.jpg" --- # The trouble with military rule is that every colonel or… ![“The trouble with military rule is that every colonel or general is soon full of ambition. The navy takes over today and the army tomorrow.” quote by Yakubu Gowon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26e/yakubu-gowon-75291_ambition_the-trouble-with-military-rule-is-that-e_1033300.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26e/yakubu-gowon-75291_ambition_the-trouble-with-military-rule-is-that-e_1033300.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26e/yakubu-gowon-75291_ambition_the-trouble-with-military-rule-is-that-e_1033300.jpg) > “The trouble with military rule is that every colonel or general is soon full of ambition. The navy takes over today and the army tomorrow.” [Yakubu Gowon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yakubu-gowon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Military leadership often becomes self‑serving, with each branch seeking dominance over the others. **In simple terms:** Power leads to rivalry among military branches. Key Takeaway Beware of ambition in hierarchical structures. Themes power ambition military politics Mood cautious critical Type political historical When to use this quote - government decision - army leadership - naval command - policy making Key Concepts hierarchy self‑interest competition Questions to Reflect On - How does power concentrate ambition? - What checks can prevent branch rivalry? A Different Perspective Ambition can be mitigated by strong civilian oversight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Colonel General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colonel-general-2373498/) [Colonels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colonels/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-rule-1765293/) [Navy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/navy/) [Navy Takes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/navy-takes-2373497/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Rule Colonel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-colonel-2373496/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trouble Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-military-2373495/) ## Related quotes > [“My brother, Major General Lawrence Heinlein, once told me that there are only two promotions in life that mean a damn: from buck private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-patterson-jr/my-brother-major-general-lawrence-heinlein-once-told-me-that-there/) [William H. 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Crawling, slithering, along the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/i-watched-a-snail-crawl-along-the-edge-of-a-straight-razor-that-s-my/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) > [Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron,” Sebastian said approvingly. “Excellent choice.” “You have read this?” Alexei asked. “It’s not as good as Miss Davenport…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/miss-butterworth-and-the-mad-baron-sebastian-said-approvingly/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [ Here at great expense,' \[Colonel Groves\] moaned to Oppenheimer, 'the government has assembled the world's largest collection of crackpots. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-sheinkin/here-at-great-expense-colonel-groves-moaned-to-oppenheimer-the/) [Steve Sheinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-sheinkin/) > [Great God of the Ants, thou hast granted victory to thy servants. I appoint thee honorary Colonel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karel-capek/great-god-of-the-ants-thou-hast-granted-victory-to-thy-servants-i/) [Karel Capek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karel-capek/) > [He sank into the rocking chair, the same one in which Rebecca had sat during the early days of the house to give embroidery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/he-sank-into-the-rocking-chair-the-same-one-in-which-rebecca-had-sat/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [Does it say 'Colonel' anywhere on my uniform?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-o-neill/does-it-say-colonel-anywhere-on-my-uniform/) [Jack O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-o-neill/) ## More by Yakubu Gowon > [I am ready to face the International Criminal Court of Justice at the Hague for prosecution over roles played by me when the war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yakubu-gowon/i-am-ready-to-face-the-international-criminal-court-of-justice-at-the/) [Yakubu Gowon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yakubu-gowon/) > [The worth of a child born and bred in Nigeria cannot be compared to that in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yakubu-gowon/the-worth-of-a-child-born-and-bred-in-nigeria-cannot-be-compared-to/) [Yakubu Gowon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yakubu-gowon/) [Explore all 3 Yakubu Gowon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yakubu-gowon/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. 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