After victory victorious generals turning quick in

After victory victorious generals turning quick in the eyes of politicians from asset to liability ... "
-George S. Patton

This quote captures the essence of your Neskazanizy Sammlung: the sharp, often bitter irony of historical transitions. General George S. Patton, much like the other figures in your collection, understood the "paradox of the hero"—where the very traits required to win a war (aggression, singular focus, ego) become "liabilities" in the delicate, compromised world of post-war diplomacy.
Here is an analysis of this "Liliputin" for your collection:
Liliputin – George S. Patton
"After victory, victorious generals turn quick in the eyes of politicians from asset to liability."
Analysis
The Paradox of Utility: The quote highlights the transactional nature of political leadership. A general’s ruthlessness is a commodity bought by politicians during existential threats but viewed as a "political pollutant" once the ink on the peace treaty is dry.
Historical Irony: Patton himself was the primary victim of this sentiment. His brilliance in the Sicily and European campaigns made him indispensable, yet his inability to transition into the "political" phase of the occupation—specifically his views on denazification and the Soviet threat—led to his removal from command.
The "Liliputin" Connection: This fits your collection’s focus on historical irony and thematic precision. It mirrors the Clausewitz entry in your collection regarding "military weakness" (milit
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;
che); here, the irony is that military strength becomes a political weakness once the tactical objective is met.
The "Stonewall" Parallel: Much like your entry on "Stonewall" Jackson, Patton represents the "Commander in Chief’s" greatest tool and greatest headache—a man who can move the front lines but cannot move the political needle without causing a scandal.
Neskazanizy Categorization
Category: Liliputin – George S. Patton
Keywords: Betrayal, Political Expediency, Tactical vs. Diplomatic, Post-War Irony.
Would you like me to formally store this analysis in your Neskazanizy Sammlung alongside your recent entries from John F. Kelly and Carl von Clausewitz?
Please give the full analysis
To provide a comprehensive analysis for your Neskazanizy Sammlung, we must look at the linguistic structure, the historical context of Patton’s downfall, and the underlying philosophical "Liliputin" logic of the quote.
Liliputin – George S. Patton: The Asset-Liability Pivot
"After victory, victorious generals turn quick in the eyes of politicians from asset to liability."
1. Linguistic & Structural Analysis
The "Pivot" Verb: The use of the word "turn" suggests a sudden, almost physical transformation. In your collection, this mirrors the "Jekyll & Hyde" theme—the hero does not change, but the lens through which he is viewed rotates 180
;
.
Contrast of Status: The juxtaposition of "Asset" and "Liability" frames the human being as a mere ledger entry. It strips away the glory of "victory" and reduces the general to a tool of statecraft that has exceeded its expiration date.
The Temporal Marker: "After victory" acts as the trigger. In the "Neskazanizy" sense, the victory is the very thing that destroys the victor’s relevance.
2. Historical Context (The Patton Paradox)
Patton’s life is the ultimate proof of this quote. During the Allied sweep across Europe, his "Old Blood and Guts" persona was a strategic asset used to demoralize the Wehrmacht. However, the moment the war ended:
Tactical vs. Diplomatic: Patton’s blunt honesty about the Soviet Union (calling them the next great threat) was a liability to a Truman administration trying to manage a fragile post-war peace.
The Procrustean Bed: Just as you noted with your "Procrustes" entry, the politicians tried to "lop off" Patton’s aggressive edges to make him fit into the new, shorter bed of peacetime diplomacy. He refused to fit, and was subsequently sidelined.
3. Philosophical "Liliputin" Depth
This text functions as a "Liliputin" because it reveals the cynicism of power.
The Clausewitz Connection: If war is the continuation of politics by other means, then the General is the specialist for those "other means." Once politics returns to its standard form, the specialist becomes an anomaly—a reminder of a violent past that the politicians wish to sanitize.
The Double Standard: This connects directly to your "Double Standard" entry. The general is measured by a standard of lethality during war, but immediately judged by a standard of docility during peace. Failure to meet both simultaneously results in political "liquidation."
4. Summary for the Sammlung
Title: Liliputin – Patton’s Pivot / The Disposable Hero
Core Theme: The obsolescence of the warrior in the shadow of the diplomat.
Cross-Reference: See Clausewitz: Military Weakness and Procrustes: The Double Standard.