George S. Patton Quotes about War

The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.

Give me an Army of West Point graduates and I'll win a battle... Give me a handful of Texas Aggies and I'll win a war.

May God have mercy for my enemies because I won't.

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

Attack rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, without rest, however tired and hungry you may be, the enemy will be more tired, more hungry. Keep punching.

I am a Soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.

Good tactics can save even the worst strategy. Bad tactics will destroy even the best strategy.

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.

Never let the enemy pick the battle site.

Say what you mean and mean what you say.

A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later.

No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.

Men, this stuff that some sources sling around about America wanting out of this war, not wanting to fight, is a crock of bullshit. Americans love to fight, traditionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. You are here today for three reasons. First, because you are here to defend your homes and your loved ones. Second, you are here for your own self respect, because you would not want to be anywhere else. Third, you are here because you are real men and all real men like to fight.

For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.

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

By perseverance, study, and eternal desire, any man can become great.

Discipline can only be obtained when all the officers are imbued with the sense of their awful obligation to their men and to their country that they cannot tolerate negligence. Officers who fail to correct errors or to praise excellence are valueless in peace and dangerous misfits in war.

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.

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.

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

The leader must be an actor.

War is simple, direct, and ruthless.

America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war.

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

In war nothing is impossible, provided you use audacity.