Jim Mattis Quotes

A man that runs away may fight again.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead! In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger.

In war the heroes always outnumber the soldiers ten to one.

In strife who inquires whether stratagem or courage was used?

And the blood of brave men was shed like unto the shedding of rain from a black cloud.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from falling hands we throw.

Americans love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle.

The scene was not a happy one yet we looked upon it in the cold stoical spirit of a soldier; a slight chilling pang and then a return soul and body to the enemy before us.

Soldiers are citizens of death's grey land, drawing no dividend from time's tomorrows.

We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.

They are more than men at the outset of their battles; at the end they are less than the women.

I told the stories of the soldiers who don’t get a vote on whether or not they are on the battlefield.

[Referring to Mexican officers:] I do not think a more incompetent set of officers ever existed ... With an able general the Mexicans would make a good fight, for they are a courageous people.

The generals were fighting machine guns with the breasts of gallant men.

No sir, anybody who went out and got into the front line trenches to fight for liberty was a goddamn fool and the guy who got him there was a liar.

So long as our Corps fields such Marines, America has nothing to fear from tyrants, be they Fascists, Communists or Tyrants with Medieval Ideology. For we serve in a Corps with no institutional confusion about our purpose: To fight! To fight well!

I would storm the gates of Hell if Third Marine Air Wing was overhead.

….it was a brave man’s fear. I knew what he meant. What must a brave general feel when he knows the battle has gone against him and nothing remains but death?

Any coward can fight a battle when he's sure of winning; but give me the man who has the pluck to fight when he's sure of losing.

Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen worse sights than this.

The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers.

War spares not the brave, but the cowardly.

Demons run when a good man goes to war.

Where there is a brave man, in the thickest of the fight, there is the post of honor.