Every soldier must know, before he goes into battle, how the

The words of Bernard Law Montgomery—“Every soldier must know, before he goes into battle, how the little battle he is to fight fits into the larger picture, and how the success of his fighting will influence the battle as a whole.”—carry the weight of wisdom born in the smoke of war. They are not idle musings, but the distillation of a commander’s experience, forged in the crucible of World War II. In these words, Montgomery reminds us that no act, however small, stands alone. Every man, every decision, every struggle is part of a greater whole.

Montgomery himself, the famed British Field Marshal, commanded in the deserts of North Africa and across the fields of Europe. He knew that armies are not only moved by generals, but by the countless soldiers who take their places in the line, who advance, who hold, who bleed. The general may envision the strategy, but it is the individual fighter who carries it out. For this reason, Montgomery insisted that each man understand his role, not as an isolated task, but as a vital link in a chain of destiny.

The ancients would have applauded this truth. Did not Leonidas and his Spartans know, at Thermopylae, that their stand against overwhelming odds was but a fragment of the war, yet one that would inspire all of Greece to rise? Their “little battle” became the flame that lit the larger fire of freedom. Each soldier fought with the knowledge that his death could mean life for his homeland. Thus, Montgomery’s words echo across centuries: greatness is achieved when each person sees how their part strengthens the whole.

History offers countless examples. In the D-Day landings of 1944, a young soldier storming the beach might have thought his action small, his struggle insignificant amid the thunder of thousands. Yet the success of each group carving out a foothold made possible the liberation of a continent. Without the courage of the individual, the plan of the generals would have remained ink upon paper. The larger picture depended entirely on the faithfulness of the smaller pieces.

The meaning of Montgomery’s teaching extends beyond war. Life itself is a vast campaign, and each of us is both general and soldier. The tasks we undertake—raising children, laboring at work, showing kindness to a stranger—may seem small, but they form part of a greater tapestry. A single word of encouragement may save a soul from despair; a single act of integrity may change the course of a community. Just as in war, each “little battle” contributes to the fate of the whole.

The lesson for us is clear: never despise the small part you play. Understand the vision of the greater whole, and fight your part with courage and devotion. If you are a leader, make the vision plain, so that every soldier knows why his effort matters. If you are a worker, a parent, a friend, see your daily struggles as threads woven into something larger than yourself. In this way, even the smallest victories take on eternal meaning.

Practically, this means cultivating awareness and purpose. Before any task, ask yourself: How does this contribute to the greater good? Seek to align your work, your choices, your battles with something larger than yourself—a family, a community, a vision of justice, or the service of God. In doing so, you will find strength in hardship, for you will know that your struggle is not wasted, but is part of a great and noble cause.

Thus let Montgomery’s words endure: every soldier must know his place in the picture, and every human must see their life as part of a greater story. To fight with knowledge of the whole is to fight with honor; to live with awareness of the greater plan is to live with meaning. And when each of us embraces our “little battle” with courage, together we secure the triumph of the greater war.