George S. Patton Quotes - Page 8

War is an art and as such is not susceptible of explanation by fixed formula

For years I have been accused of making snap judgments. Honestly, this is not the case because I am a profound military student and the thoughts I express, perhaps too flippantly, are the result of years of thought and study.

We want to get the hell over there. The quicker we clean up this Goddamned mess, the quicker we can take a little jaunt against the purple pissing Japs and clean out their nest, too. Before the Goddamned Marines get all of the credit.

If you can't get them to salute when they should salute and wear the clothes you tell them to wear, how are you going to get them to die for their country?

A piece of spaghetti or a military unit can only be led from the front end.

I always believe in being prepared, even when I'm dressed in white tie and tails.

If I win I can't be stopped! If I lose I shall be dead.

If you go into a battle, it's better to win the first time.

It is rather interesting how you get used to death.

Sir, I am not a brave man...The truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn't so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands.

Success is how you bounce on the bottom.

The fixed determination to have acquired the warrior soul, to either conquer or perish with honor, is the secret of victory.

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.

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

...an imperfect plan implemented immediately and violently will always succeed better than a perfect plan.

Few men are killed by the bayonet, many are scared by it. Bayonets should be fixed when the fire fight starts

Do as I have taught you, and you will stay alive.

All men are frightened. The more intelligent they are, the more they are frightened.

Successful generals make plans to fit circumstances, but do not try to create circumstances to fit plans.

Every man is scared in his first battle. If he says he's not, he's a liar. Some men are cowards but they fight the same as the brave men or they get the hell slammed out of them watching men fight who are just as scared as they are. The real hero is the man who fights even though he is scared.

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.

Success is not getting to the top - but how you bounce up from the bottom that counts.

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.

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

Many, who should know better, think that wars can be decided by soulless machines, rather than by the blood and anguish of brave men.