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About this quote

What does it mean?
Izzard highlights that historical leaders ignored similar cold weather warnings before invading Russia.
In plain terms
Napoleon and Hitler both failed because they ignored the cold.
What can you take from it?
Past mistakes often repeat when lessons are ignored.

Where it applies

  • historical analysis
  • military history
  • stand-up comedy

Putting it to work

  • learning from history
  • understanding military failure

Questions to consider

  • Why do leaders repeat known mistakes?
  • How does geography affect war?

Another view

It reduces complex geopolitical strategies to a single weather factor.

More from Eddie Izzard

  1. After the war, there was this feeling of no empire no longer : 'All right, come on, Europe, give these countries back. Britain?' 'What?' 'What's that behind yo…

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  2. In the 30s: Hitler, Czechoslovakia, Poland, France, the second World War - the Russian front, not a good idea! Hitler never played Risk when he was a kid! 'Cau…

    Permalink to quote #21
  3. We stole countries with the cunning use of flags. Just sail around the world and stick a flag in. 'I claim India for Britain!' And they're going, 'You can't cl…

    Permalink to quote #18

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