George S. Patton Quotes

Nobody ever defended anything successfully, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.

The most vital quality a soldier can possess is self-confidence.

Be willing to make decisions. That's the most important quality in a good leader.

Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men

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.

Prepare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable.

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

A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is lost.

Wars are not won by fighting battles; wars are won by choosing battles

There's only one way for a professional soldier to die. That's from the last bullet of the last battle of the last war.

Always advance. Never dig in.

Perpetual peace is a futile dream.

Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge.

In war nothing is impossible, provided you use audacity.

Human beings are made up of flesh and blood, and a miracle fiber called courage.

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 example

Anyone in any walk of life who is content with mediocrity is untrue to himself and to American tradition.

A good battle plan that you act on today can be better than a perfect one tomorrow.

You fight like you train.

The only way you get on in this profession is to have the reputation of doing what you are told as thoroughly as possible.

War is simple, direct, and ruthless.

You shouldn't underestimate an enemy, but it is just as fatal to overestimate him.

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.

There is no proof nor yet any denial. We were, we are, and we will be.

We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.

There is no such thing as luck, merely opportunity meeting preparedness. George S. Patton Jr.

continue to advance until you run out of ammunition. Then, dig in.

Officers must be made to care for their men. That is the sole duty of all officers.

Battle is an orgy of disorder.

A pint of sweat, saves a gallon of blood.

Always do everything you ask of those you command.

My men don't dig foxholes. I don't want them to. Foxholes only slow up an offensive. Keep moving. And don't give the enemy time to dig one either.

Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn't give a hoot and hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost nor ever lose a war.

It is only by doing things others have not that one can advance.

Remember praise is more valuable than blame.

War is the supreme test of man in which he rises to heights never approached in any other activity.

In war the only sure defense is offense, and the efficiency of the offense depends on the warlike souls of those conducting it.

Let us not mourn that such men died, but rejoice that such men lived.

A man is not measured by how much he can take and stand but by how fast he regains once fallen.

Don't fall victim to what I call the ready-aim-aim-aim-aim syndrome. You must be willing to fire.

Success demands a high level of logistical and organizational competence.

A man must know his destiny.

If I do my full duty, the rest will take care of itself.

I'd rather have a German Division in front of me than a French one behind.

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.

Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men.

There is only one sort of discipline, perfect discipline.

When in doubt, ATTACK!

When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead!

When a decision has to be made, make it. There is no totally right time for anything.