Probably the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing-fields of Eton, but the opening battles of all subsequent wars have been lost there.

Summary

This quote suggests that the victory of the Battle of Waterloo can be attributed to the training and character development that took place on the playing-fields of Eton, a prestigious British school. However, it also implies that in modern times, the early mistakes and missteps in wars are often made during the planning and strategizing phases, which may not receive the same level of attention and skill development as the physical training on the playing-fields. In essence, this quote emphasizes the importance of comprehensive preparations, strategic thinking, and thorough planning in modern warfare.

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