"The Creator has not thought proper to mark those in the forehead who are of stuff to make good generals. We are first, therefore, to seek them blindfold, and then let them learn the trade at the expense of great losses"
- Thomas Jefferson
About this Quote
This quote by Thomas Jefferson speaks to the problem of discovering excellent generals. He suggests that the Creator has actually not made it simple to identify those who have the potential to be terrific generals, and so we must look for them blindly. As soon as we have actually discovered them, they need to then find out the trade of being a basic, however this will come at a terrific expense in terms of losses. Jefferson is stressing the significance of discovering the ideal individuals for the task, and the problem of doing so. He is also warning of the cost of training them, and the losses that will inevitably come with it. This quote talks to the significance of careful selection and training of generals, and the need to be prepared for the losses that will come with it.