Lance Armstrong loved racing in the rain — not because he enjoyed it, but because he knew everyone else would dread it and want to go easy in the rain. He would crush his opponents when they were already demoralized and lazy. Thrived in that Frogman weather!
Loved this essay, Sam; happy to have found your Substack.
I was thinking about the "forage war" . From what I have read, George valued in put from subordinates and intelligence. As painful as it is to admit, without French arms, French money, French troops, and the French fleet we would probably have Charles' picture in our public buildings. Franklin getting a monarch to commit to the establishment of a republic is one of the great diplomatic feats of history.
Washington gets less credit than he deserves as a general. His gift was fighting the war he had the army to fight. He initially lost more than he won but he got better at picking the battles he could win. The Hessian were not actually mercenaries. Their king rented out his standing army to George III. They were not recruited.
Warriors win battles but systems win wars. It doesn't even have to be the best system to win. The Soviet system in World War 2 for example. When hunter gathers go against farmers the farmers usually win. Not by necessarily being better Warriors, but because they were part of a system that organized, trained, and supported them.
Thank you for the comment, Fred. Washington's "Fabian strategy" was brilliant. It was a truly adaptive solution to the limitations he was faced with. It is ironic that the enemy didn't take him seriously as a General, yet he led the entire country to victory by fully exploiting what he had control over, and not wasting any time on things he had zero control over.
Epictetus leads the way to true freedom as only a former slave can: "Let others practice lawsuits, others problems, others syllogisms; but you practice how to die, how to be chained, how to be racked, how to be exiled."
Lance Armstrong loved racing in the rain — not because he enjoyed it, but because he knew everyone else would dread it and want to go easy in the rain. He would crush his opponents when they were already demoralized and lazy. Thrived in that Frogman weather!
Loved this essay, Sam; happy to have found your Substack.
Thank you Scott, that is a savage and enlightened mentality.
I was thinking about the "forage war" . From what I have read, George valued in put from subordinates and intelligence. As painful as it is to admit, without French arms, French money, French troops, and the French fleet we would probably have Charles' picture in our public buildings. Franklin getting a monarch to commit to the establishment of a republic is one of the great diplomatic feats of history.
We paid the French back in kind in WW1 and WW2, but for their support between 1775-1783, we can still do more for them. Great points.
Washington gets less credit than he deserves as a general. His gift was fighting the war he had the army to fight. He initially lost more than he won but he got better at picking the battles he could win. The Hessian were not actually mercenaries. Their king rented out his standing army to George III. They were not recruited.
Warriors win battles but systems win wars. It doesn't even have to be the best system to win. The Soviet system in World War 2 for example. When hunter gathers go against farmers the farmers usually win. Not by necessarily being better Warriors, but because they were part of a system that organized, trained, and supported them.
Thank you for the comment, Fred. Washington's "Fabian strategy" was brilliant. It was a truly adaptive solution to the limitations he was faced with. It is ironic that the enemy didn't take him seriously as a General, yet he led the entire country to victory by fully exploiting what he had control over, and not wasting any time on things he had zero control over.
Embrace the suck and use it as armor. My most recounted axiom of all times by Nietzsche;
"That which does not kill me only makes me stronger"
Completely agree. All the truly great minds valued the same mode of living: savoring every moment on this earth as an opportunity to grow.
Comfort in discomfort.
That is it.
Epictetus leads the way to true freedom as only a former slave can: "Let others practice lawsuits, others problems, others syllogisms; but you practice how to die, how to be chained, how to be racked, how to be exiled."
What a good fight.
Yeah, just like the citizens of Rock Ridge did! Unfortunately, Harry only pawn in game of life...;)