Jim Mattis Quotes

Knowledge is power, if you know it about the right person.

Hating clouds the mind. It gets in the way of strategy. Leaders cannot afford to hate

When a man has fulfilled all four of these requisites-to be wide awake, to have fear, respect, and absolute assurance-there are no mistakes for which he will have to account; under such conditions his actions lose the blundering quality of the acts of a fool. If such a man fails, or suffers a defeat, he will have lost only a battle, and there will be no pitiful regrets over that.

Who makes quick use of the moment is a genius of prudence.

I actually don't think that I'm that much smarter than anybody else. It's just that I frequently just seem to know what to do, and I think that's wisdom.

Decisiveness is a characteristic of high-performing men and women. Almost any decision is better than no decision at all.

Be there a will, and wisdom finds a way.

You need to have extraordinary wisdom to be the forerunner.

Prudence is not hesitation, procrastination, or moderation. It is not driving in the middle of the road. It is not the way of ambivalence, indecision, or safety.

Wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues.

In action a great heart is the chief qualification. In work, a great head.

Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.

Most of the good executives do pretty well. Because to be a good executive you have to be strong, and you have to have a simple attribute that people have forgotten about - courage.

Thinking clearly and effectively is the greatest asset of any human being.

Fighter pilots have ice in their veins. They don't have emotions. They think, anticipate. They know that fear and other concerns cloud your mind from what's going on and what you should be involved in.

The wise learn many things from their enemies.

One man with a head on his shoulders is worth a dozen without.

Where fear is present, wisdom cannot be.

I am able to ride the bike and think clearly about strategy and tyres. I also have positive thinking. I am very constructively critical.

I'm not very keen for doves or hawks. I think we need more owls.

Spies are great, and when you need 'em, you need 'em. But they are no substitute for insight.

Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity

I operate better with education and awareness, like I think all of us do. I don't like to be walking around in a vacuum, lost in my own thoughts. I'm much better with information.

Wherever the enemy wants to fight, we will follow him to the ends of the Earth. We'll adapt, we'll train, we'll advise, we'll mentor, and we'll fight, and we'll fight well.

Insight essentially means being able to see things other people are not able to see. This is the hallmark of leadership.