Abraham Lincoln Quotes

I was in uniform for four years, and I know that heroism doesn't occur from taking orders, but rather from people who through their own willpower and strength are willing to sacrifice their lives for an idea.

It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.

Anyone who wants to carry on the war against the outsiders, come with me. I can’t offer you either honours or wages; I offer you hunger, thirst, forced marches, battles and death. Anyone who loves his country, follow me.

Young people are so brave when they go to fight.

Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood.

It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.

For one thing, I don't think that anybody in any war thinks of themselves as a hero.

Going to war was the only unselfish thing I have ever done for humanity.

The courage of a soldier is found to be the cheapest and most common quality of human nature.

Colonel, I do not care to die, but I pray to God I may never leave this field.

We must beat them tomorrow and I have no doubt but we will do it though probably many of us will not hear the cheer of victory. Every man should feel the highest personal responsibility to do his duty to the last extremity, and see the ‘Stars and Stripes’ flying over the rebel forts or sink in the effort to place them there.

Soldiers, I intend to stay here, not only as long as a man remains, but as long as a piece of a man is left.

Every generation of Americans who has fought, every generation of Americans who has served, has suffered.

A hero is a man who does what he can.

Follow me if I advance, kill me if I retreat, avenge me if I die.

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

Conquest is the missionary of valor, and the hard impact of military virtues beats meanness out of the world.

From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when called, gone where ordered, and defended our nation with honor.

Our men and women in our armed forces are the real heroes in this conflict.

I don't think that anybody in any war thinks of themselves as a hero. The minute anybody presumes that they are heroes, they get their boots taken away from them and buried in the sand.

Every pioneer and musician who could carry a musket went into the ranks. Even the sick and foot-sore, who could not keep up in the march, came up as soon as they could find their regiments, and took their places in line of battle, while it was battle, indeed.

A short, glorious life in service of a greater good - say, the life of the Spartans at Thermopylae, or the pilots in the Battle of Britain, of whom Winston Churchill said 'Never have so many owed so much to so few,' - that is worth praising. But for glory alone? I think not.

The selfless actions of these heroes have removed them from their families, businesses and homeland to fight, so that others may experience the liberty awaiting our troops upon safe return to America.

Then when I went to Iraq and saw the strength and character the men and women in our military service exhibit every day and their belief in what they're doing, I knew I wanted to get that on film and share it with everyone. They are my inspiration.

I have so much respect for people in the service. The mental strength it takes to do what they do is unbelievable.