Great Throughts Treasury

"Always be tactful and well-mannered and teach your subordinates to be the same. Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide."

"In a moment of extreme danger things can be done which have previously been thought impossible. Mortal danger is an effective antidote for fixed ideas."

"But courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity, or, if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility."

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

"Courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity, or, if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility."

"Be an example to your men in your duty and in private life. Never spare yourself, and let the troops see that you don't in your endurance of fatigue and privation. Always be tactful and well-mannered, and teach your subordinates to be the same. Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide."

"Anyone who has to fight, even with the most modern weapons, against an enemy in complete command of the air, fights like a savage against modern European troops, under the same handicaps and with the same chances of success."

"Good soldiers, bad officers; however don't forget that without them we would not have any Civilization."

"Gentlemen, you have fought like lions and been led by donkeys."

"I would rather be the hammer than the anvil."

"In a man-to-man fight, the winner is he who has one more round in his magazine."

"I would rather he had given me one more division."

"No plan survives contact with the enemy."

"Mortal danger is an effective antidote for fixed ideas."

"In the absence of orders, go find something and kill it."

"The art of concentrating strength at one point, forcing a breakthrough, rolling up and securing the flanks on either side, and then penetrating like lightning deep into his rear, before the enemy has time to react."

"The German soldier has impressed the world, however the Italian Bersagliere soldier has impressed the German soldier."

"The future battle on the ground will be preceded by battle in the air. This will determine which of the contestants has to suffer operational and tactical disadvantages and be forced throughout the battle into adoption compromise solutions."

"War without Hate."

"Sweat saves blood."

"One must not judge everyone in the world by his qualities as a soldier: otherwise we should have no civilization."