Military Leadership Quotes

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  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

  1677 Copy quote
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  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

  869 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.

  184 Copy quote

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• A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances.

  George S. Patton

  Military, Men, Leader

  211 Copy quote

• Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.

  Colin Powell

  Leadership, Errors, Trial And Error

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

  Abraham Lincoln

  Inspirational, Leadership, Wisdom

  847 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

  57 Copy quote

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• 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

  148 Copy quote

• 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

  538 Copy quote

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• 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

  56 Copy quote

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• 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

  118 Copy quote

• 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.

  197 Copy quote

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• 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.

  386 Copy quote

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• 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

  80 Copy quote

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

  Dwight D. Eisenhower

  Funny, Relationship, Leadership

  327 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

  28 Copy quote

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• 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.

  24 Copy quote

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• 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

  18 Copy quote

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• 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.

  22 Copy quote

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• To command is to serve, nothing more and nothing less.

  Andre Malraux

  Leadership, Military, Vision

  56 Copy quote

• 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”

  8 Copy quote

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• Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.

  George S. Patton

  Inspirational, Positive, Success

  47 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

  14 Copy quote

• I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.

  Robert E. Lee

  Motivational, Inspiring, Trust

  203 Copy quote

• Never forget that no military leader has ever become great without audacity.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Courage, Military, War

  Carl von Clausewitz (2012). “Principles of War”, p.14, Courier Corporation

  17 Copy quote

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