George S. Patton
There are three ways that men get what they want; by planning, by working, and by praying. Any great military operation takes careful planning, or thinking. Then you must have well-trained troops to carry it out: that's working. But between the plan and the operation there is always an unknown. That unknown spells defeat or victory, success or failure. It is the reaction of the actors to the ordeal when it actually comes. Some people call that getting the breaks; I call it God. God has His part, or margin in everything, That's where prayer comes in.Collection: Prayer
A man must know his destiny… if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder… if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.Collection: Military
In war the only sure defense is offense, and the efficiency of the offense depends on the warlike souls of those conducting it.Collection: Military
Audacity, audacity, always audacity.Collection: Courage
To be a successful soldier you must know history. . . . What you must know is how man reacts. Weapons change but man who uses them changes not at all. To win battles you do not beat weapons - you beat the soul of man of the enemy man.Collection: Successful
Each man must not think only of himself, but also of his buddy fighting beside him. We don't want yellow cowards in this Army. They should be killed off like rats. If not, they will go home after this war and breed more cowards. The brave men will breed more brave men. Kill off the Goddamned cowards and we will have a nation of brave men.Collection: War
There is no such thing as luck, merely opportunity meeting preparedness. George S. Patton Jr.Collection: Opportunity
The most vital quality a soldier can possess is self-confidence.Collection: Self Confidence
It is only by doing things others have not that one can advance.Collection: Military
Live for something rather than die for nothing.Collection: Birthday
A man is not measured by how much he can take and stand but by how fast he regains once fallen.Collection: Men
Never draw a gun on a man unless you intend to kill him. And believe me, if you do intend to kill him he will already know it. Then he will feel the cold breath of the tomb.Collection: Believe
The leader must be an actor.Collection: Military
Perpetual peace is a futile dream.Collection: Dream
When in doubt, ATTACK!Collection: Military
War is simple, direct, and ruthless.Collection: War
There is no such thing as a successful defense.Collection: Sports
Lack of orders is no excuse for inaction.Collection: Order
America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war.Collection: Military
...It is a proud privilege to be a soldier – a good soldier … [with] discipline, self-respect, pride in his unit and his country, a high sense of duty and obligation to comrades and to his superiors, and a self confidence born of demonstrated ability.Collection: Country
Duty is the essence of manhood.Collection: Bad Ass
From time to time there will be some complaints that we are pushing our people too hard. I don't give a good Goddamn about such complaints. I believe in the old and sound rule that an ounce of sweat will save a gallon of blood. The harder we push, the more Germans we will kill. The more Germans we kill, the fewer of our men will be killed. Pushing means fewer casualties. I want you all to remember that.Collection: Believe
A real man will never let his fear of death overpower his honor, his sense of duty to his country, and his innate manhood.Collection: Country
Most battles are won before they are ever fought.Collection: Wisdom
Human beings are made up of flesh and blood, and a miracle fiber called courage.Collection: Running
I am the best damn ass-kicker in the whole U.S. Army!Collection: Army
Prisoner of War guard companies, or an equivalent organization, should be as far forward as possible in action to take over prisoners of war, because troops heated with battle are not safe custodians. Any attempt to rob or loot prisoners of war by escorts must be dealt strictly with.Collection: Military
In landing operations, retreat is impossible, to surrender is as ignoble as it is foolish. above all else remember that we as attackers have the initiative, we know exactly what we are going to do, while the enemy is ignorant of our intentions and can only parry our blows. We must retain this tremendous advantage by always attacking rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, and without rest.Collection: War
Success is not getting to the top - but how you bounce up from the bottom that counts.Collection: Bottom
You must do your damdest and win.Collection: Military
Take calculated risks.Collection: Military
Remember wars are won by killing people. The more we kill, the quicker we'll get out of this war.Collection: War
An incessant change of means to attain unalterable ends is always going on; we must take care not to let these sundry means undo eminence in the perspective of our minds; for, since the beginning, there has been an unending cycle of them, and for each its advocates have claimed adoption as the sole solution of successful war.Collection: War
Infantry must move forward to close with the enemy. It must shoot in order to move.... To halt under fire is folly. To halt under fire and not fire back is suicide. Officers must set the exampleCollection: Suicide
If we aren't victorious, let no man come back alive!Collection: Men
The obvious thing for the cavalryman to do is to accept the fighting machine as a partner, and prepare to meet more fully the demands of future warfare.Collection: Military
I learned very early in my life never to take counsel in my fears.Collection: Courage
Success in war depends upon the golden rule of war.Collection: War
In forty hours I shall be in battle, with little information, and on the spur of the moment will have to make the most momentous decisions. But I believe that one's spirit enlarges with responsibility and that, with God's help, I shall make them, and make them right.Collection: Encouraging
Remember that the enemy is just as frightened as you are and probably more so. They are not supermenCollection: Army
Let's shoot the works and win! Yes win it all.Collection: Winning
I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed! Gen.Collection: Wrestling
A man must know his destiny.Collection: Destiny
The publicity I have been getting, a good deal of which is untrue, and the rest of it ill considered, has done me more harm than good. The only way you get on in this profession is to have the reputation of doing what you are told as thoroughly as possible. So far I have been able to accomplish that, and I believe I have gotten quite a reputation from not kicking at peculiar assignments.Collection: Believe
In my opinion, the M1 rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devisedCollection: Battle
Death can be more exciting than life.Collection: Death
Compared to war, all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance. God help me, I do love it so.Collection: War
I always believe in being prepared, even when I'm dressed in white tie and tails.Collection: War