Give me an army of West Point graduates, I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies and I'll win a war!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A select group of highly motivated individuals can achieve more than a larger force of elites.
- In plain terms
- A few passionate fighters beat a large elite army.
- What can you take from it?
- Motivation beats elite training.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What matters more: skill or will?
- How do you build teams?
Another view
Elite training often provides necessary technical skills for complex operations.
More from George S. Patton
Fail to honor people, They fail to honor you; But of a good leader, who talks little, When his work is done, his aims fulfilled, They will all say, We did this…
Permalink to quote #62 I'd rather have a German division in front of me, than a French one behind.
Permalink to quote #64 Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant u…
Permalink to quote #61
Related quotes
We are going for the enemy's fortifications. Artillery is doing its share in every phase of the battle. Automatic weapons are so extensively used to-day that w…
Leonid GovorovLeonid Govorov quote #1 The Germans underestimated our artillery. And they underestimated the effectiveness of our infantry against their tanks. This battle showed that tanks forced t…
Vasily ChuikovVasily Chuikov quote #3 They're busily re-thinking a lot of their cherished doctrines. Nothing concentrates the military mind like getting shot at.
Bruce SterlingBruce Sterling quote #57