When a man is lying in a shell hole, if he just stays there all day, a German will get to him eventually. The hell with that idea. The hell with taking it. My men don't dig foxholes. I don't want them to. Foxholes only slow up an offensive. Keep moving. And don't give the enemy time to dig one either. We'll win this war, but we'll win it only by fighting and by showing the Germans that we've got more guts than they have; or ever will have. We're not going to just shoot the sons-of-bitches, we're going to rip out their living Goddamned guts and use them to grease the treads of our tanks. We're going to murder those lousy Hun cocksuckers by the bushel-fucking-basket. 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. When shells are hitting all around you and you wipe the dirt off your face and realize that instead of dirt it's the blood and guts of what once was your best friend beside you, you'll know what to do!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Soldiers should keep moving and fighting rather than hiding in foxholes to win with superior spirit.
- In plain terms
- Keep moving and fighting instead of hiding to win the war.
- What can you take from it?
- Stay active and offensive to win.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Am I hesitating when I should act?
- Does my position slow us down?
Another view
Defense has its place when the situation requires survival.
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