Military Leadership Quotes

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. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.

Douglas MacArthur

Inspirational, Leadership, Confidence

1698 Copy quote
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

John Quincy Adams

Inspirational, Life, Motivational

883 Copy quote
Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.

Colin Powell

Leadership, Errors, Trial And Error

239 Copy quote
Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.

George S. Patton

Leadership, Military, Bad Ass

"Pocket Patriot: Quotes from American Heroes". Book edited by Kelly Nickell, p. 157, 2005.

194 Copy quote

Show source
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

Abraham Lincoln

Inspirational, Leadership, Wisdom

887 Copy quote
Leadership is the sum of those qualities of intellect, human understanding, and moral character that enables a person to inspire and control a group of people successfully.

John A. Lejeune

Leadership, Military, Character

150 Copy quote
A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances.

George S. Patton

Military, Men, Leader

217 Copy quote
The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them.

Colin Powell

Leadership, Military, Army

Colin L. Powell (1995). “My American Journey”, Random House Incorporated

58 Copy quote

Show source
Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.

George S. Patton

Inspirational, Positive, Leadership

"War As I Knew It". Book by George S. Patton. Chapter "Reflections and Suggestions", 1947.

211 Copy quote

Show source
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

Motivational, Inspiring, Leadership

Colin L. Powell, Joseph E. Persico (2010). “My American Journey”, p.52, Ballantine Books

541 Copy quote

Show source
Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.

John F. Kennedy

Inspirational, Leadership, Educational

Undelivered Speech to the Dallas Citizens Council, delivered 22 November 1963, Trade Mart, Dallas, Texas

63 Copy quote

Show source
Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.

Norman Schwarzkopf

Leadership, Business, Character

122 Copy quote
You don't lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Funny, Relationship, Leadership

328 Copy quote
Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.

Peter Drucker

Inspirational, Change, Leadership

"Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey, (p. 101), 1989.

390 Copy quote

Show source
Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Leadership, Art, Business

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (1960). “Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1954”, p.477, Best Books on

87 Copy quote

Show source
Always do everything you ask of those you command.

George S. Patton

Army, Military Command, Military General

"I Remember General Patton's Principles". Book by Porter B. Williamson, p. 174, 1984.

23 Copy quote

Show source
Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.

George S. Patton

Inspirational, Positive, Success

50 Copy quote
The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.

Walter Lippmann

Inspirational, Change, Success

New York Herald Tribune 14 Apr. 1945

29 Copy quote

Show source
To command is to serve, nothing more and nothing less.

Andre Malraux

Leadership, Military, Vision

57 Copy quote
Be the hunter, not the hunted: Never allow your unit to be caught with its guard down.

James Mattis

Military, Army, Hunting

"Eve of Battle Speech". The Weekly Standard, March 1, 2003.

25 Copy quote

Show source
My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence.

Bernard Law Montgomery

Leadership, Motivation, Character

160 Copy quote
A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.

George S. Patton

Inspirational, Life, Motivational

240 Copy quote
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

Marine Corps, Desire, Battle

15 Copy quote
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

Leadership, Army, Men

Harry S. Truman (2014). “1945: Year of Decision”, p.145, New Word City

20 Copy quote

Show source
A chief is a man who assumes responsibility. He says 'I was beaten,' he does not say 'My men were beaten.'

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Fear, Business, Responsibility

Antoine de Saint Exupery (1942). “Flight to Arras”

9 Copy quote

Show source