Commanders Quotes

In general, our generals were out-generalled.

There still shines the most important nuance by virtue of which the noble felt themselves to be men of a higher rank. They designate themselves simply by their superiority in power (as "the powerful," "the masters," "the commanders") or by the most clearly visible signs of this superiority, for example, as "the rich," "the possessors" (this is the meaning of 'Arya,' and of corresponding words in Iranian and Slavic).

I'm a big fan of General Douglas MacArthur and General George Patton.We have a few generals that have been so incredible to me. Now we have 200.

I could not bear the obvious mistakes made during the maneuver, and afterwards I criticized the pasha bitterly in the presence of all his officers, even though in doing so I exceeded my authority and my rank. The pasha looked hurt, but did not bear me malice…My behavior may have been contrary to discipline. But if a person trained in Germany does not work at the art of command, what can we expect of those who have not had this advantage? Perhaps when they see that they are criticized by their juniors, our commanders will learn to do better.

Generals who can write always make me nervous.

The commanders likewise shall be careful lest the sick lack anything in the way of food and other necessaries, so far as they can be provided. However, if through despite or negligence on the part of those who provide for the needs of the sick, the sick are neglected, then the brethren who serve in the hospital shall notify the master or the superior, who shall inflict suitable punishment according to the gravity of the offense. He to whom the sick are entrusted shall also take care to secure, if possible, attendants who will bring devotion and humbleness to the task of compassionately and faithfully serving the sick; and if obvious neglect by those who tend the sick comes to his attention, he shall not let it go unpunished

Soldiers generally win battles; generals get credit for them.

Generals make plans. Plans go wrong. And soldiers die.

There is no point in hiding that before the war we mostly learned to attack, and did not pay enough attention to such an important maneuver as retreat. Now we have paid for this. It turned out that the commanders and the staff were not sufficiently prepared to prepare and execute the retreat maneuver. Now, in the second week of war, we had in fact to learn from the beginning the most difficult art - the art of the execution of retreat.

Nuts!

Commanders-in-chief make really tough decisions.

All very successful commanders are prima donnas and must be so treated.

Abraham Lincoln went through 12 generals before he got Ulysses S. Grant. He had never done a Civil War before.

There has never been a military commander in history who didn’t want more men for a longer time …

From the oldest general in Europe to the greatest general on earth.

God bless the soldiers and seamen, with all their brave commanders.

If a commanding General finds a necessity to seize the farm of a private owner, for a pasture, an encampment, or a fortification, he has the right to do so, and to so hold it, as long as the necessity lasts; and this is within military law, because [it is] within military necessity. But to say the farm shall no longer belong to the owner, or his heirs forever; and this as well when the farm is not needed for military purposes as when it is, is purely political, without the savour of military law about it. And the same is true of slave

To need to dominate others is to need others. The commander is dependent.

I don’t even think of myself as a quote, unquote star - that’s really douchey. I think of myself as just like . . . a dance commander.

With growing experience, all skillful commanders sought to profit by the power of the defensive, even when on the offensive.

As far as I’m concerned, the senior commanders of the Ottoman empire are useless. For me, the command structure of the army stops at majors. Tomorrow’s great commanders will come from their ranks. I’ll keep officers up to the rank of major on the army roll. The rest I’ll get rid of.

I've already heard from some military commanders who feel they've been undercut by the vice president of the United States, and there's a lot of justification for their view.

There are but few commanders who properly appreciate the value of celerity.

The most consistently successful commanders, when faced by an enemy in a position that was strong naturally or materially, have hardly ever tackled it in a direct way. And when, under pressure of circumstances, they have risked a direct attack, the result has commonly been to blot their record with a failure.

Better a cautious commander, and not a rash one.