"The saying is ancient, that the first casualty of any battle is your own battle plan." (p. 282)
Is that the saying? Googling reveals:
"No plan survives contact with the enemy." Here.
"Truth is the first casualty in war." Here.
"The first casualty of war is innocence." Here. (More recent.)
We all experience what happens to plans, whether or not in battle.
I have experienced what happens to truth. As soon as a conflict begins, I quote something that I have heard about it and am immediately contradicted by someone who either knows more than I do or who at least has different sources. Some people seem to know everything without consulting any sources! One rule: Do not just uncritically repeat the first thing that you have heard. Learn long term.
3 comments:
Actually I think it comes from the Chief of the Prussian General Staff in the Franco-Prussian war:
"No battle plan survives contact with the main force of the enemy."
The same man said: "Planning is everything, the plan is nothing."
It's been humorously recast as: "The enemy, that dirty dog, has a plan of his own."
Of course, the problem is that people get emotionally attached to plans and interpret evidence of their success or failure emotionally.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
And that means wise general staffs and commanders at least try not to get too inflexibly attached to their plans.
Ad astra! Sean
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