George S. Patton Quotes

The highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is bearing arms.

Battle is an orgy of disorder.

You just wait and see. The lily-livered b*stards in Washington will demobilize. They’ll say they’ve made the world safe for democracy again. The Russians are not such d*mned fools. They’ll rebuild; and with modern weapons.

Better to fight for something than live for nothing.

If a man does his best, what else is there?

All very successful commanders are prima donnas and must be so treated.

Do not try to make circumstances fit your plans. Make plans that fit the circumstances.

Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.

Americans love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle.

If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you’ll be amazed at the results.

There is a time to take counsel of your fears, and there is a time to never listen to any fear.

Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.

There is only one sort of discipline, perfect discipline.

When in doubt, observe and ask questions. When certain, observe at length and ask many more questions.

The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That’s the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead!

Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.

A civil servant is sometimes like a broken cannon – it won’t work and you can’t fire it.