R. Lee Ermey Quotes

An Army is a collection of armed men obliged to obey one man. Every change in the rules which impairs the principle weakens the army.

In the Marine Corps, everything had a purpose.

Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another.

Everyone follows the chief. This is a very disciplined army we have.

In the military you do not get points for creativity. You get points for obedience.

I guess it's from going to Virginia Military Institute. I'm a good person to follow orders.

Oddly, the military world is one of great sameness. There is an orderly quality to life on an army base, and even the children of the military are brought up with that sense of order and sameness.

Military organization, like religious organization, can be seen as a paradigm of organization in general.

He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.

Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head.

In the Navy when you say right full rudder and everyone goes right. It's wonderful. In the private sector [and government] no one pays any attention to you.

In matters of business deal only with the commander of the army, column, or party in which you serve. Never give orders to anyone at all, and reserve your directions or advice for the C.O., however great the temptation (for efficiency’s sake).

At the end of the day, the Army is a standards-based organization.

A player can't request on what position he wants to play, and it is the same with the captaincy. One should respect this, there are hierarchies.

I know what hierarchy and discipline mean. Without those, we will never have order and progress.

In the Army, I learned how to use and respect my rifle.

It would probably be a direct order, shape up your morale. And so he understands command. He understands how to delegate. And I think that [General John Kelly] will bring law and order.

A soldier's first duty is to obey, otherwise you might as well do away with soldiering.

In war, discipline can do more than fury.

Discipline is the soul of an army.

Because I grew up with a drill sergeant in my life, I respect order and it really gave me the discipline to be a leader and not a follower. It also helped me stay out of trouble.

If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.

All are born to observe order, but few are born to establish it.

Discipline is simply the art of making the soldiers fear their officers more than the enemy.

The Marines gave me a really strong sense of discipline and a work ethic that kicks in at my job.