I liked those English and Scottish troops; they are slow, but they are reliable. I liked the way they shaved every morning and went into action smoking their pipes.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He expresses admiration for English and Scottish troops, noting their slowness but reliability, and their habit of smoking pipes before action.
- In plain terms
- He liked the reliable, pipe‑smoking British troops despite their slowness.
- What can you take from it?
- Reliability can outweigh speed in soldiers.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does reliability always compensate for lack of speed?
- How do cultural habits affect combat effectiveness?
Another view
The comment is anecdotal and may reflect personal bias.
More from Rodion Malinovsky
Playing down the effective capacity of the USSR to deal a counterblow to the aggressor and exaggeration of their transoceanic capabilities...do not testify to …
Permalink to quote #5 Don't touch us, gentlemen imperialists, don't threaten us for you yourselves will fall into the abyss which you are so diligently preparing for us and burn to …
Permalink to quote #4 The Soviet Army, Air Force and Navy are strong enough to thwart any attempts of imperalist reaction to disrupt the peaceful labor of our people or the unity an…
Permalink to quote #3
Related quotes
Ewald von Kleist was an officer and a gentleman in an era when such characteristics were liabilities.
Paul Ludwig Ewald von KleistPaul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist quote #4 It is curious that more vividly than anything that came afterwards in the Spanish war I remember the week of so-called training that we received before being s…
George OrwellGeorge Orwell quote #72 Don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy, and the lash.
Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill quote #216