101 George Patton Quotes on Leadership from General of US Army

George Patton, born in San Gabriel, California, on November 11, 1885, was a renowned U.S. Army General.

Growing up in a family with military ancestry, he decided early to pursue a military career, graduating from West Point in 1909.

He gained recognition as a military tactician during the Pancho Villa Expedition and World War I, where he developed expertise in tank warfare.

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During World War II, Patton advocated for tank warfare and was promoted to general.

Known for his hard-hitting motivational speeches, he earned the nickname “old blood and guts.”

His decisive leadership was instrumental in gaining control of North Africa, Morocco and Sicily, capturing more than 100,000 enemy troops in Italy alone.

Patton’s remarkable military achievement was the Battle of the Bulge, where his swift decision-making led to the rescue of allied troops and the defeat of Germans.

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He led his army to capture over 80,000 square miles of territory, capturing, killing, or wounding approximately 1.5 million German soldiers.

Patton, known also for his excellent athleticism and horsemanship, died on December 21, 1945.

Here are the best George Patton quotes for you.


Best George Patton Quotes

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Just drive down that road, until you get blown up. ~ George Patton.

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Do your duty as you see it, and damn the consequences. ~ George Patton.

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Success demands a high level of logistical and organizational competence. ~ George Patton.

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The real hero is the man who fights even though he is scared. ~ George Patton.

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Do your damnedest in an ostentatious manner all the time. ~ George Patton.

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War is simple, direct, and ruthless. ~ George Patton.

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. ~ George Patton.

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In case of doubt, push on just a little further and then keep on pushing. ~ George Patton.

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived. ~ George Patton.

All glory is fleeting. ~ George Patton.

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If I win I can’t be stopped! If I lose I shall be dead. ~ George Patton.

A real man will never let his fear of death overpower his honor, his sense of duty to his country, and his innate manhood. ~ George Patton.

In case of doubt, attack. ~ George Patton.

The fixed determination to have acquired the warrior soul, to either conquer or perish with honor, is the secret of victory. ~ George Patton.

Famous George Patton Quotes

When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead! ~ George Patton.

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A good battle plan that you act on today can be better than a perfect one tomorrow. ~ George Patton.

The leader must be an actor. ~ George Patton.

May God have mercy for my enemies because I won’t. ~ George Patton.

A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances. ~ George S. Patton Jr.

War is very simple, direct, and ruthless. It takes a simple, direct, and ruthless man to wage war. ~ George Patton.

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. ~ George Patton.

Attack rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, without rest, however tired and hungry you may be, the enemy will be more tired, more hungry. Keep punching. ~ George Patton.

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Better to fight for something than live for nothing. ~ George Patton.

Duty is the essence of manhood. ~ George Patton.

There is no such thing as a successful defense. ~ George Patton.

Inspiring George Patton Quotes

I am a Soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight. ~ George Patton.

Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack. ~ George Patton.

Fatigue makes cowards of us all. ~ George Patton.

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If a man does his best, what else is there? ~ George S. Patton.

Fixed fortifications are a monument to the stupidity of man. ~ George Patton.

We must guard against becoming so engrossed in the specific nature of the roots and bark of the trees of knowledge as to miss the meaning and grandeur of the forest they compose. ~ George Patton.

To conquer, we must destroy our enemies. We must not only die gallantly; we must kill devastatingly. The faster and more effectively you kill, the longer you will live to enjoy the priceless fame of conquerors. ~ George Patton.

Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politicians. ~ George Patton.

When a decision has to be made, make it. There is no totally right time for anything. ~ George Patton.

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Americans love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle. ~ George Patton.

Always do more than is required of you. ~ George Patton.

When in doubt, ATTACK! ~ George Patton.

Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way. ~ George Patton.

The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other guy die for his. ~ George Patton.

All men are frightened. The more intelligent they are, the more they are frightened. ~ George Patton.

Motivational George Patton Quotes

War is the supreme test of man in which he rises to heights never approached in any other activity. ~ George Patton.

A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed at some indefinite time in the future. ~ George Patton.

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Fear kills more people than death. ~ George Patton.

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. ~ George Patton.

Make your plans to fit the circumstances. ~ George Patton.

Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory. ~ George Patton.

You need to overcome the tug of people against you as you reach for high goals. ~ George Patton.

Always do everything you ask of those you command. ~ George Patton.

You’re never beaten until you admit it. ~ George Patton.

The reason there are so many tree-lined boulevards in Paris is so the German army can march in the shade. ~ George Patton.

You fight like you train. ~ George Patton.

Most battles are won before they are ever fought. ~ George Patton.

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Take calculated risks. ~ George Patton.

Don’t fall victim to what I call the ready-aim-aim-aim-aim syndrome. You must be willing to fire. ~ George Patton.

The most difficult thing about being humble is not being able to brag about it. ~ George Patton.

I never take counsel of my fears. ~ George Patton.

Inspirational George Patton Quotes

By perseverance, study, and eternal desire, any man can become great. ~ George Patton.

Say what you mean and mean what you say. ~ George Patton.

Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash. ~ George Patton.

Successful generals make plans to fit circumstances, but do not try to create circumstances to fit plans. ~ George Patton.

I read the Bible – every goddamn day. ~ George Patton.

In war the only sure defense is offense, and the efficiency of the offense depends on the warlike souls of those conducting it. ~ George Patton.

You shouldn’t underestimate an enemy, but it is just as fatal to overestimate him. ~ George Patton.

Courage is fear holding on a minute longer. ~ George Patton.

Make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. ~ George Patton.

Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory. ~ George Patton.

Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men. ~ George Patton.

A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later. ~ George Patton.

If we aren’t victorious, let no man come back alive! ~ George Patton.

Top George Patton Quotes

It is only by doing things others have not that one can advance. ~ George Patton.

You cannot be disciplined in great things and undisciplined in small things. ~ George Patton.

I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom. ~ George Patton.

No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair. ~ George Patton.

Prepare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable. ~ George Patton.

Anyone in any walk of life who is content with mediocrity is untrue to himself and to American tradition. ~ George Patton.

A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood. ~ George Patton.

Always advance. Never dig in. ~ George Patton.

You are not all going to die. Only two percent of you right here today would die in a major battle. ~ George S. Patton Jr.

If you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do, the body is never tired if the mind is not tired. ~ George S. Patton Jr.

Never let the enemy pick the battle site. ~ George Patton.

Be willing to make decisions. That’s the most important quality in a good leader. ~ George Patton.

The test of success is not what you do when you are on top. Success is how high you bounce when you hit the bottom. ~ George Patton.

Success in war depends upon the golden rule of war. ~ George Patton.

Wars are not won by fighting battles; wars are won by choosing battles. ~ George Patton.

I always believe in being prepared, even when I’m dressed in white tie and tails. ~ George Patton.

Keep going, someone must be on top, why not you? ~ George Patton.

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Do not make excuses, whether it’s your fault or not. ~ George Patton.

Pressure makes diamonds. ~ George Patton.

You cannot be disciplined in great things and undisciplined in small things. Brave undisciplined men have no chance against the discipline and valor of other men. Have you seen a few policemen handle a crowd? ~ George Patton.

There is no such thing as luck, merely opportunity meeting preparedness. George S. Patton Jr. ~ George Patton.

If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you’ll be amazed at the results. ~ George Patton.

Great George Patton Quotes

We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way. ~ George Patton.

When in doubt, observe and ask questions. When certain, observe at length and ask many more questions. ~ George Patton.

America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war. ~ George Patton.

No sane man is unafraid in battle, but discipline produces in him a form of vicarious courage. ~ George Patton.

If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking. ~ George Patton.


So these were the 101 top George Patton quotes and sayings on life, war and battle.

If you like these quotes and sayings, then you can also read my other posts on George Eliot quotes and George Mason quotes.

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Chandan Negi
Chandan Negi

I’m the Founder of Internet Pillar - I love sharing quotes and motivational content to inspire and motivate people - #quotes #motivation #internetpillar