“There is a maxim popular with the Soviets during the Cold War:
‘Quantity has a quality all of its own.’â€
Following that maxim didn’t work out very well for them.
Actually they (the Russians) were referring to the tidal wave of “inferior” ( from a NATO perspective) Soviet and Warsaw Pact mechanized and motorized rifle divisions the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSFG) intended to pour through the Fulda Gap to overwhelm the Allies. The sentiment being that, despite significant losses, having enough of those “inferior” units (quantity) would allow them to destroy the “superior” forces of the West (quality) and still have enough left over to dictate the peace terms and enforce an occupation. And remember, the Soviets were well ahead of NATO in doctrine and preparedness to fight in a CBRN environment if things went South, which it probably would have at some point.
Personally, I ‘m glad both sides had the good sense to not try to find out.
(Twenty five years (!!) after that threat passed, I ‘m amazed how easily all the terms of reference come to mind. Must have considered them important for some reason or another.)