American Military Quotes

• Were the Soviet Union to sink tomorrow under the waters of the ocean, the American military-industrial establishment would have to go on, substantially unchanged, until some other adversary could be invented. Anything else would be an unacceptable shock to the American economy.

  George F. Kennan

  Military, Ocean, Government

  Foreword to 'The Pathology of Power' by Norman Cousins in 1987. "At a Century's Ending: Reflections 1982-1995". Book by George F. Kennan, p. 118, 1996.

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• I submit that those who run the American military at the top, and those whose boots are on the ground and who run the machinery and equipment, are sending a signal: You asked us to do something. Give us some time and we will solve the problems and we will do it.

  Pete Domenici

  Running, Military, Giving

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  I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

  Nathan Hale

  Inspirational, Life, Country

  Before being executed as a spy by the British, 22 September 1776, in Henry Phelps Johnston 'Nathan Hale, 1776' (1914) ch. 7.

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  The willingness of America's veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.

  Jeff Miller

  Thanksgiving, Country, Gratitude

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• A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

  John Stuart Mill

  Freedom, War, Military

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• This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.

  Elmer Davis

  Country, Courage, Veterans Day

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• Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!

  William Shakespeare

  Dog, Military, War

  'Julius Caesar' (1599) act 3, sc. 1, l. 270

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• So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Courage, Badass, Military

  Address at the Sorbonne, Paris, 23 Apr. 1910. Richard M. Nixon quoted this passage in his address to the nation announcing his decision to resign the presidency, 8 Aug. 1974. See Theodore Roosevelt 1; Theodore Roosevelt 2; Theodore Roosevelt 5

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• Get the hell out of my way!

  Ayn Rand

  Strength, Courage, Philosophy

  Ayn Rand (2011). “Ayn Rand Novel Collection”, p.2340, Penguin

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  War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.

  William Tecumseh Sherman

  Death, Military, War

  "The Civil War Generation". Book by Norman K. Risjord, p. 143, 2002.

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• Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

  Winston Churchill

  Being Strong, Veterans Day, Stay Strong

  Winston Churchill (2012). “Churchill: The Power of Words”, p.395, Da Capo Press

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• Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never -- in nothing, great or small, large or petty -- never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.

  Winston Churchill

  Life, Inspiring, Graduation

  Speech at Harrow School, Harrow, England, 29 Oct. 1941

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• It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Motivational, Courage, Strong

  Address at the Sorbonne, Paris, 23 Apr. 1910. Richard M. Nixon quoted this passage in his address to the nation announcing his decision to resign the presidency, 8 Aug. 1974. See Theodore Roosevelt 1; Theodore Roosevelt 2; Theodore Roosevelt 5

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• In war there is no substitute for victory.

  Douglas MacArthur

  Memorial Day, Inspirational Sports, Motivational Sports

  Sylvanus Thayer Award Acceptance Address, delivered 12 May 1962, West Point, NY

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• The most persistent sound which reverberates through man's history is the beating of war drums.

  Arthur Koestler

  Veterans Day, Military, War

  Janus (1978) prologue

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• It is God's job to forgive Osama Bin Laden. It is our job to arrange a face to face meeting.

  Norman Schwarzkopf

  Jobs, Military, Forgiving

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• Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.

  Gilbert K. Chesterton

  Courage, Veterans Day, Strong

  Gilbert K. Chesterton (2013). “The Essential Gilbert K. Chesterton”, p.69, Simon and Schuster

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• Once we have a war there is only one thing to do. It must be won. For defeat brings worse things than any that can ever happen in war.

  Ernest Hemingway

  Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Military

  Ernest Hemingway, William Kozlenko (1942). “Men at War: The Best War Stories of All Time”, New York : Crown Publishers

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• Never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

  Winston Churchill

  Being Strong, Encouraging, Courage

  Winston Churchill (2012). “Churchill: The Power of Words”, p.395, Da Capo Press

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• As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

  John F. Kennedy

  Inspirational, Thank You, Thanksgiving

  Kennedy, John F. (1964). “Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963”, p.836, Best Books on

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  People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

  Richard Grenier

  Strength, Wisdom, Veterans Day

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• My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

  John F. Kennedy

  Inspirational, Inspiring, Country

  Inaugural Address, 20 Jan. 1961

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• The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.

  George Washington

  Veterans Day, Military, War

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• The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

  Desmond Tutu

  Memorial Day, Peace, Freedom

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• We have met the enemy and they are ours.

  Oliver Hazard Perry

  Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Military

  Message toWilliam Henry Harrison, 10 Sept. 1813. The source is Perry's dispatch from the U.S. brig Niagara to General Harrison, announcing that victory at the Battle of Lake Erie was secure. The dispatch was written in pencil on the back of an old letter; it is quoted in Robert B. McAfee, History of the LateWar in theWestern Country (1816). SeeWalt Kelly 2; Walt Kelly 3

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