Top 180 George S. Patton Quotes (2025 Update)
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101. “We must guard against becoming so engrossed in the specific nature of the roots and bark of the trees of knowledge as to miss the meaning and grandeur of the forest they compose.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

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

— George S. Patton Jr.

103. “Let’s keep our boots polished, bayonets sharpened, and present a picture of force and strength to the Red Army. This is the only language they understand and respect.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

104. “Lack of orders is no excuse for inaction.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

105. “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.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

106. “To be a successful soldier, you must know history.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

107. “The god of war hates those who hesitate.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

108. “Those who live in fear die a thousand deaths.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

109. “There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

110. “It is the cold glitter of the attacker’s eye not the point of the questing bayonet that breaks the line.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

111. “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.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

112. “When there is fear of failure, there will be failure.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

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

— George S. Patton Jr.

114. “A man must know his destiny.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

115. “Success is how you bounce on the bottom.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

116. “My men don’t surrender. I don’t want to hear of any soldier under my command being captured unless he has been hit. Even if you are hit, you can still fight back.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

117. “I do not have to tell you who won the war. You know, the artillery did.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

118. “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 Jr.

119. “When we land against the enemy, don’t forget to hit him and hit him hard. When we meet the enemy we will kill him. We will show him no mercy.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

120. “Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of battle.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

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

— George S. Patton Jr.

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

— George S. Patton Jr.

123. “The courageous man is the man who forces himself, in spite of his fear, to carry on.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

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

— George S. Patton Jr.

125. “Often I have encountered in life that great disappointments have proved to be the road to future successes.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

126. “If we take the generally accepted definition of bravery as a quality which knows no fear, I have never seen a brave man. All men are frightened. The more intelligent they are, the more they are frightened.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

127. “Compared to war, all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance. God help me, I do love it so.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

128. “I’d rather have a German Division in front of me than a French one behind.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

129. “My men can eat their belts, but my tanks have gotta have gas.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

130. “War is a bloody, killing business. You’ve got to spill their blood, or they will spill yours. Rip them up the belly. Shoot them in the guts.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

131. “All very successful commanders are prima donnas and must be so treated.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

132. “Perpetual peace is a futile dream.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

133. “A civil servant is sometimes like a broken cannon – it won’t work and you can’t fire it.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

134. “There are three ways that men get what they want: by planning, by working, and by praying.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

135. “There is only one sort of discipline, perfect discipline.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

136. “Remember praise is more valuable than blame.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

137. “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.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

138. “The supreme measure of a man, is what he would risk his life for.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

139. “Let’s shoot the works and win! Yes win it all.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

140. “Remember wars are won by killing people. The more we kill, the quicker we’ll get out of this war.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

141. “Battle is an orgy of disorder.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

142. “You must do your damdest and win.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

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

— George S. Patton Jr.

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

— George S. Patton Jr.

145. “If I could have three wishes, one would be to take an ’88 and shove that barrel up Hitler’s ass so that cocksucker can cry like the little god-damned girl he is. And hell, after that, I wouldn’t need two more wishes.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

146. “Death can be more exciting than life.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

147. “The duties of an officer are the safety, honor, and welfare of your country first; the honor, welfare, and comfort of the men in your command second; and the officer s own ease, comfort, and safety last.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

148. “In war nothing is impossible, provided you use audacity.”

— George S. Patton Jr.

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

— George S. Patton Jr.

150. “Untutored courage is useless in the face of educated bullets.”

— George S. Patton Jr.