Making the world safe for hypocrisy.
—Thomas Wolfe (1900–38) American Novelist
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be never so vile. This day shall gentle his condition. And gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The mass, whether it be a crowd or an army, is vile.
—Benito Mussolini (1883–1945) Italian Head of State, Politician
What makes a regiment of soldiers a more noble object of view than the same mass of mob? Their arms, their dresses, their banners, and the art and artificial symmetry of their position and movements.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Everyone imposes his own system as far as his army can reach.
—Joseph Stalin (1878–1953) Soviet Leader
No profession or occupation is more pleasing than the military; a profession or exercise both noble in execution (for the strongest, most generous and proudest of all virtues is true valor) and noble in its cause. No utility either more just or universal than the protection of the repose or defense of the greatness of one’s country. The company and daily conversation of so many noble, young and active men cannot but be well-pleasing to you.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Valor, glory, firmness, skill, generosity, steadiness in battle and ability to rule—these constitute the duty of a soldier. They flow from his own nature.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
An army marches on it’s stomach
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Visit the Navy-Yard, and behold a marine, such a man as an American government can make, or such as it can make a man with its black arts—a mere shadow and reminiscence of humanity, a man laid out alive and standing, and already, as one may say, buried under arms with funeral accompaniments.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
The wonder is always new that any sane man can be a sailor.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
No army has ever done so much with so little.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
Standing armies can never consist of resolute robust men; they may be well-disciplined machines, but they will seldom contain men under the influence of strong passions, or with very vigorous faculties.
—Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–97) English Writer, Feminist
In this country it’s a good thing to kill an admiral now and then to encourage the others.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
The best armor is to keep out of gun shot.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.
—Sun Tzu (fl. c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
Skill and confidence are an unconquered army.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Soldiers have many faults, but they have one redeeming merit; they are never worshippers of force. Soldiers more than any other men are taught severely and systematically that might is not right. The fact is obvious. The might is in the hundred men who obey. The right (or what is held to be right) is in the one man who commands them.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
In order to be a leader a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence, the supreme quality for a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office. If a man’s associates find him guilty of being phony, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore is integrity and high purpose.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
O the joy of the strong-brawn’d fighter, towering in the arena in perfect condition, conscious of power, thirsting to meet his opponent.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
The courage of a soldier is found to be the cheapest and most common quality of human nature.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
Armies, though always the supporters and tools of absolute power for the time being, are always its destroyers too, by frequently changing the hands in which they think proper to lodge it.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
I must have the gentleman to haul and draw with the mariner, and the mariner with the gentleman. I would know him, that would refuse to set his hand to a rope, but I know there is not any such here.
—Francis Drake (1540–96) English Military Leader, Politician
The army is the true nobility of our country.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
The Royal Navy of England hath ever been its greatest defense and ornament; it is its ancient and natural strength; the floating bulwark of the island.
—William Blackstone (1723–80) English Judge, Jurist, Academic
‘Tis the soldier’s life to have their balmy slumbers waked with strife.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A standing army is one of the greatest mischiefs that can possibly happen
—James Madison (1751–1836) American Founding Father, Statesman, President
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