15 George S. Patton Quotes on Strategy

George S. Patton quotes on strategy

3. Some goddamn fool once said that flanks have got to be secure. Since then sonofabitches all over the globe have been guarding their flanks. I don't agree with that. My flanks are something for the enemy to worry about, not me. Before he finds out where my flanks are, I'll be cutting the bastard's throat.

10. Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning.

    Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.

22. Don't forget, you men don't know that I'm here. No mention of that fact is to be made in any letters. The world is not supposed to know what the hell happened to me. I'm not supposed to be commanding this Army. I'm not even supposed to be here in England. Let the first bastards to find out be the Goddamned Germans. Some day I want to see them raise up on their piss-soaked hind legs and howl, 'Jesus Christ, it's the Goddamned Third Army again and that son-of-a-fucking-bitch Patton'.

23. Sure, we want to go home. We want this war over with. The quickest way to get it over with is to go get the bastards who started it. The quicker they are whipped, the quicker we can go home. The shortest way home is through Berlin and Tokyo. And when we get to Berlin, I am personally going to shoot that paper hanging son-of-a-bitch Hitler. Just like I'd shoot a snake!

33. Fixed fortifications are a monument to the stupidity of man. Anything built by man, can be destroyed by him.

34. Hold'em by the nose and kick'em in the pants.

42. Just drive down that road until you get blown up.

44. March toward the sound of gunfire, an easily recognizable sound that they could usually find in front of them.

48. My soldiers can eat their waist belts, but my tanks need gas.

50. Rommel, you magnificent bastard! I read your book!

52. Take calculated risks. This is quite different from being rash. My personal belief is that if you have a 50% chance, take it!

55. There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time.

63. 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!

64. I'd rather have a German division in front of me, than a French one behind.

65. I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor, dumb bastard die for his country.