the leader of armies is the arbiter of the people's fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril. — Sun Tzu
Good generals select intelligent officers, thoughtful advisors, and brave subordinates. They oversee their troops like a fierce tiger with wings. — Zhuge Liang
Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head. — Euripides
A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops under his command make him. — Douglas MacArthur
A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troops, while on the contrary an incapable leader can demoralize the best of troops. — John J. Pershing
The greatest general is he who makes the fewest mistakes. — Napoleon Bonaparte
Decisions! And a general, a commander in chief who has not got the quality of decision, then he is no good. — Bernard Law Montgomery
A good soldier, whether he leads a platoon or an army, is expected to look backward as well as forward; but he must think only forward. — Douglas MacArthur
The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom. — Sun Tzu
The skillful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting. — Sun Tzu
A leader who doesn't hesitate before he sends his nation into battle is not fit to be a leader. — Golda Meir
It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results. — Sun Tzu
He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander. — Aristotle
The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose. — Confucius
The best generals are those who have served in the artillery. — Napoleon Bonaparte
Short Military Leader Quotes
He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. — Sun Tzu
He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. — Sun Tzu
War is much too serious a thing to be left to military men. — Charles Maurice de Talleyrand
The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men. — Sun Tzu
Diversity in counsel, unity in command. — Cyrus the Great
A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible. — Polybius
Nothing is so good for the morale of the troops as occasionally to see a dead general. — William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim
The general of a large army may be defeated, but you cannot defeat the determined mind of a peasant. — Confucius
A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances. — George S. Patton
He who has learned how to obey will know how to command. — Solon
A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others.
The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. — Colin Powell
A leader is the man who has the ability to get other people to do what they don't want to do, and like it. — Harry S. Truman
Be a leader by example. Be confident and humble. Love the unloved.
Live for something rather than die for nothing. — George S. Patton
Live for something rather than die for nothing. —George Patton — Cindy Gerard
Leadership Quotes
Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. — Warren G. Bennis
Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership. — Colin Powell
The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly. — Jim Rohn
Management is about persuading people to do things they do not want to do, while leadership is about inspiring people to do things they never thought they could. — Steve Jobs
It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership. — Nelson Mandela
The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.
The most important ingredient of leadership is character. Most of the proficiencies can be learned, but what's inside you is something that's difficult to change. — Jesse Robredo
Leadership is all about people. It is not about organizations. It is not about plans. It is not about strategies. It is all about people-motivating people to get the job done. You have to be people-centered. — Colin Powell
You don't lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership. — Dwight D. Eisenhower
It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit. — Harry S. Truman
Military Leadership Quotes
Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience. — Colin Powell
I made efforts to swallow tears and to protect the species of the Japanese nation. — Hirohito
Be the hunter, not the hunted: Never allow your unit to be caught with its guard down. — James Mattis
Following is one of the most underrated aspects of leadership.... I have seen many a good [military unit] underachieve, because someone...thought the commander was incompetent, and quietly worked to undermine his authority. — William H. McRaven
A real leader faces the music, even when he doesn't like the tune.
Our military deserves leadership that matches their service and patriotism. Getting our troops the pay raise they deserve is the very least we can do to show how much we value everything they do for us. — John F. Kerry
It was when I entered the military preparatory school and put on its uniform, that a feeling of strength came to me, as if I had become master of my own destiny. — Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
America's leadership and prestige depend, not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of world peace and human betterment. — Dwight D. Eisenhower
If officers desire to have control over their commands, they must remain habitually with them, industriously attend to their instruction and comfort, and in battle lead them well. — Stonewall Jackson
Military Soldier Quotes
Soldiers' bellies are not satisfied with empty promises and hopes. — Peter The Great
I am a Soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight. — George S. Patton
American soldiers in battle don't fight for what some president says on T.V., they don't fight for mom, apple pie, the American flag...they fight for one another. — Hal Moore
Successful leaders understand that true power comes not from exercising control, but from empowering others.
I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his honour and that of his country, Victory or death. — William B. Travis
The highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is bearing arms. — George S. Patton
Either I will come back after hoisting the Tricolor, or I will come back wrapped in it, but I will be back for sure. — Vikram Batra
Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy. — Henry A. Kissinger
The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him. — Gilbert K. Chesterton
The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country — George S. Patton
Military Command Quotes
Those who were adept and brave fellows I have made military commanders. Those who were quick and nimble I have made herders of horses. Those who were not adept I have given a small whip and sent to be shepherds — Genghis Khan
If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes. — Andrew Carnegie
The commander must decide how he will fight the battle before it begins. He must then decide who he will use the military effort at his disposal to force the battle to swing the way he wishes it to go; he must make the enemy dance to his tune from the beginning and not vice versa. — Bernard Law Montgomery
He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.
But courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity, or, if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility. — Erwin Rommel
To say that you now trust the Russian military command and control system because some Russian general told you from the bottom of his heart that's the case, strikes me as most unrealistic. — William Odom
To say that you now trust the Russian military command and control system because some Russian general told you from the bottom of his heart that's the case, strikes me as most unrealistic. — William Eldridge Odom
A leader is someone who demonstrates what's possible.
Tell the Truth, and speak from your pay-grade. Don't try to answer questions that would better be directed to the battalion commander or Gen. William Westmoreland or President Lyndon Johnson. If you are a squad leader, answer questions about what you know and do. — Hal Moore
Renown awaits the commander who first restores artillery to its prime importance on the battlefield. — Winston Churchill
The nature of encounter operations required of the commanders limitless initiative and constant readiness to take the responsibility for military actions. — Georgy Zhukov
Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses. — Juvenal
Military Personnel Quotes
If only more of today's military personnel would realize that they are being used by the owning elite's as a publicly subsidized capitalist goon squad. — Smedley Butler
But Canada remains a crucial partner in this global war on terrorism, and we are grateful for that. Canadian naval vessels, aircraft and military personnel continue anti-terrorist operations in the Persian Gulf. — Paul Cellucci
In no other profession are the penalties for employing untrained personnel so appalling or so irrevocable as in the military. — Douglas MacArthur
Leaders aren't born. They are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.
There are hundreds of electromagnetic cases where spacecraft have been observed by police, military personnel and civilians to affect car engines, radios and other electric devices. — Steven M. Greer
Surely no issue unites us more than our appreciation for our military personnel who are bringing aid to devastated countries, defending us against terrorism, and fighting to make a free election possible in Iraq. — Christine Gregoire
There is a price you pay if you want to train military personnel - they don't all come back. — Dan John
Victims love entertainment, leaders love education.
During the day on Monday, Washington time, the airport at Saigon came under persistent rocket as well as artillery fire and was effectively closed. The military situation in the area deteriorated rapidly. I therefore ordered the evacuation of all American personnel remaining in South Vietnam. — Gerald R. Ford
Requiring military hospitals to perform elective abortions exposes the physicians, the nurses, the military personnel to move against their own personal convictions of life in many cases. — Sayings
Any time the United States government turns over an American citizen, including military personnel, to the government of another country, it is in our nature to want to make sure that they receive the best treatment, the fairest treatment, and the most humane treatment. — Howard Baker
Almost all the military personnel were wearing sunglasses. No Iraqis wear sunglasses. They really want to see your eyes. So immediately they can't trust the Americans. — Bruce Cockburn
Why does soldiers leave the protection of his trench hole in the ground and go forward in the face of shot and shell? It is because of the leader who is in front of him and his comrades who are around him. Comradeship makes a man feel warm and courageous when all his instincts tend to make him cold and afraid. — Bernard Law Montgomery
The drums of a World War are beating. Beware of the military-industrial complex and the warmongers who exploit tragedy to advocate for more war. A global war would lead to immeasurable suffering. Diplomacy, conversation between leaders is the way out. — Lex Fridman
Victims love entertainment. Leaders love education.
I am a military police officer and I have served on two deployments my first was to Iraq, in a medical unit, and my second deployment was to Kuwait, as a military police platoon leader. — Tulsi Gabbard
Everywhere that the struggle for national freedom has triumphed, once the authorities agreed, there were military coups d'etat that overthrew their leaders. That is the result time and time again. — Ahmed Ben Bella
No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique. — Sun Tzu
Cities can be rebuilt, industries can be rebuilt, what really matters are strategy forces, military forces and the cadres leaders, political, military and economic. — Richard Pipes
Never forget that no military leader has ever become great without audacity. — Karl von Clausewitz
Of course, there is no question that Libya - and the world - will be better off with Gaddafi out of power. I, along with many other world leaders, have embraced that goal, and will actively pursue it through non-military means. But broadening our military mission to include regime change would be a mistake. — Barack Obama
The majority of people are timid by nature, and that is why they constantly exaggerate danger. all influences on the military leader, therefore, combine to give him a false impression of his opponent's strength, and from this arises a new source of indecision. — Carl von Clausewitz
Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. — George S. Patton
They taught me that no man could be their leader except he ate the ranks' food, wore their clothes, lived level with them, and yet appeared better in himself. — T. E. Lawrence
A military leader often faces a situation he has to deal with, but because it is his duty, no court can try him. — Albert Kesselring
A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later. — George S. Patton
Get the hell out of my way! — Ayn Rand
Why don't church leaders forbid Catholics from joining the military with the same fervor they tell Catholics to stay away from abortion clinics? — William Blum
A kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. — Sun Tzu
There is a reason why George Washington is always one of the top three presidents, and it's not because of his prowess as a military leader; it's not because of the incredible innovations in policy that he introduced. It's because he knew when it was time to go. — Barack Obama
Normally, what happens when we have a national leader who wants to do something in terms of military intervention, he tells the Pentagon, put together some options to accomplish goal. — Jack Keane
The wisdom and spirit of Churchill not only saved Britain from the Third Reich but saved Western civilization from a Nazi Dark Ages when no other nation was willing to take up that defense. Churchill was the greatest military, political and spiritual leader of the 20th century. — Victor Davis Hanson
Our profession is built on the bedrock of trust - the trust that must inherently exist among Soldiers, and between Soldiers and their leaders to accomplish their mission in the chaos of war. Recent incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment demonstrate that we have violated that trust. — Raymond T. Odierno
The repeal of don't ask, don't tell didn't change things for transgender people in the military. What it has done, though, I think, is it has taught our military leaders that they don't need to be afraid of these issues. — Allyson Robinson
Often times the best military leaders were soldiers. — Jim Caviezel
The great military leaders of the past have gone, their empires have crumbled and burned to ashes. But the empire of Jesus, built solidly and majestically on the foundation of love, is still growing. — Martin Luther King, Jr.
Traditional Albanian society was based on a clan system and was further divided into brotherhoods and bajraks. The bajrak system identified a local leader, called a bajrakar, who could be counted on to provide a certain number of men for military duty. — Sebastian Junger
For years, European leaders have pointed out that Europe is an economic giant, but a military pygmy. — George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen
The American people rightly look to their military leaders to be not only skilled in the technical aspects of the profession of arms, but to be men of integrity — J. Lawton Collins
Military cemeteries in every corner of the world are silent testimony to the failure of national leaders to sanctify human life. — Yitzhak Rabin
One thing the military does far better than business is train its own leaders. I can't go to IBM and hire a battalion commander. They don't have any. — Colin Powell
Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right also for this country. That our leaders, our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan. — Sarah Palin
Under our Constitution, military leaders have no choice but to endorse the president's decision after giving him their best advice. — Robert Kagan
In this era of uncertainty and conflict, the United States - blessed with the world's strongest military, most ingenious economy, and most tolerant society - remains a model and leader to the world. — Joe Lieberman
I think in national security, the war in Iraq is troublesome and a difficult challenge, but our troops and the military leaders we have are managing that situation, although it continues to be very risky and very dangerous. — Thad Cochran
Many of our nation's great leaders began their careers at a service academy. I encourage anyone interested in a rewarding college experience or military career to apply as soon as possible. — Chris Cannon
The Secret Service is a strange group. They don't really have a leader. It's not set up like a military. Each one is supposed to be able to act like a leader when something comes up. — Val Kilmer
I never imagined working with CEOs, congressmen or the military, yet I make regular visits to the Pentagon, stop by the Capitol now and then and sit down with leaders of all kinds of companies. — Simon Sinek
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