Welcome to our collection of Military Quotes, where the valor, sacrifice, and dedication of our armed forces are celebrated through powerful words and phrases. Throughout history, military leaders, soldiers, and strategists have shared their wisdom, experiences, and insights, providing a glimpse into the unique world of the military. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, motivation, or simply a deeper appreciation for the men and women who serve in uniform, you’ll find a wealth of thought-provoking quotes on this page.
From iconic figures like General George S. Patton and Admiral Chester Nimitz to famous war correspondents and anonymous warriors, these quotes reflect the unwavering spirit of those who have defended their nations and fought for freedom. Explore this page to discover memorable quotes that encapsulate the essence of military life, leadership, and honor. Feel free to copy these quotes, place them on images, or enhance them with stylish fonts to share with others, paying tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who serve. Scroll down to explore the inspiring world of military quotes.
So long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, we will sustain the strongest military the world has ever known. When you take off the uniform, we will serve you as well as you’ve served us – because no one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, or a roof over their head, or the care that they need when they come home. Barack Obama
I do not believe in people owning guns. Guns should be owned only by the police and military. I am going to do everything I can to disarm this state. Michael Dukakis
If you believe the doctors, nothing is wholesome; if you believe the theologians, nothing is innocent; if you believe the military, nothing is safe. Lord Salisbury
I started to make a study of the art of war and revolution and, whilst abroad, underwent a course in military training. If there was to be guerrilla warfare, I wanted to be able to stand and fight with my people and to share the hazards of war with them. Nelson Mandela
American foreign policy and military might have opened an opportunity for the Gospel in the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Charles Stanley
With the all-volunteer military, we, as a society, have become disconnected from our armed forces. And our military, like almost everything else in our country, has been outsourced. James Carville
The war we are fighting today against terrorism is a multifaceted fight. We have to use every tool in our toolkit to wage this war – diplomacy, finance, intelligence, law enforcement, and of course, military power – and we are developing new tools as we go along. Richard Armitage
Augustine says that you don’t understand a nation by the throw weight of its military or the strength of its research universities or the size of its population, but by looking at what it loves in common. To assess a nation, you look at the health and strength of its ideals. And there’s no question that the common love in America is freedom. Os Guinness
The military don’t start wars. Politicians start wars. William Westmoreland
If we can make more diverse colors, people, stories, it will be interesting. Uniforms are for the military and the police, not for our thinking. Daniela Vega
The veterans of our military services have put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms that we enjoy. They have dedicated their lives to their country and deserve to be recognized for their commitment. Judd Gregg
Before Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962, he was an angry, relatively young man. He founded the ANC’s military wing. When he was released, he surprised everyone because he was talking about reconciliation and forgiveness and not about revenge. Desmond Tutu
History offers no evidence for the proposition that the assignment of women to military combat jobs is the way to win wars, improve combat readiness, or promote national security. Phyllis Schlafly
Our waterboarding program is based on the U.S. military training program… tens of thousands of U.S. servicemen were waterboarded pursuant to this program to prepare them for the possibility of being captured someday so that they would know what it felt like. Jose Rodriguez
One of the lessons learned during the Vietnam War was that the depiction of wounded soldiers, of coffins stacked higher than their living guards, had a negative effect on the viewing public. The military in Iraq specifically banned the photographing of wounded soldiers and coffins, thus sanitizing this terrible and bloody conflict. Walter Dean Myers
You can’t kill your way to success in a counter insurgency effort. You have to protect the people, get the civil military balance right, train the locals, and practice effective strategic communications. James G. Stavridis
Money is my military, each dollar a soldier. I never send my money into battle unprepared and undefended. I send it to conquer and take currency prisoner and bring it back to me. Kevin O’Leary
I think I understand what military fame is; to be killed on the field of battle and have your name misspelled in the newspapers. William Tecumseh Sherman
Most of wars or military coups or invasions are done in the name of democracy against democracy. Eduardo Galeano
You don’t have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight. Barry Goldwater
There was no military reason to drop atomic bombs on Japan. They were used as terrorist weapons – killing innocent people to influence other people. Harry Browne
Military intelligence is a contradiction in terms. Groucho Marx
Military dictatorship is born from the power of the gun, and so it undermines the concept of the rule of law and gives birth to a culture of might, a culture of weapons, violence and intolerance. Benazir Bhutto
The Islamic method of waging war is not to kill innocent civilians, but it was Christians in World War II who bombed innocent civilians in Dresden and dropped the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, neither of which were military targets. Feisal Abdul Rauf
If we have reason to believe someone is preparing an attack against the U.S., has developed that capability, harbours those aspirations, then I think the U.S. is justified in dealing with that, if necessary, by military force. Dick Cheney
Anti-submarine warfare is the military version of chess. You must work out what the enemy is going to do before they even think of it. Sarah West
I’ve made some films for the military that are teaching things like cultural awareness and leadership issues, that sort of stuff. And try to, in essence, look at what training they’re doing and say, ‘This is how you can improve the training from a humanistic point of view.’ Carl Weathers
A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The military people don’t like it; the government probably doesn’t like it, but the people should know what they’re sending their young people into when they permit their governments to declare war and engage in war. Walter Cronkite
We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded. Barack Obama
Without education, we are weaker economically. Without economic power, we are weaker in terms of national security. No great military power has ever remained so without great economic power. Jon Meacham
Contrary to what some believe, taking all reasonable and feasible precautions to protect civilians – and mitigating the resulting anger when we harm them – does not need to impede military operations. Patrick Leahy
America is secure because we can afford the strongest military in history. Once the U.S. economy is no longer dominant, we are no longer safe, and the world becomes chaotic. Tucker Carlson
Optimistic people play a disproportionate role in shaping our lives. Their decisions make a difference; they are inventors, entrepreneurs, political and military leaders – not average people. They got to where they are by seeking challenges and taking risks. Daniel Kahneman
War is, in fact, an extension of politics, and in any war, military operations have to be conducted in such a way that they contribute to sustainable political outcomes consistent with vital interests that are at stake in that war. H. R. McMaster
As far as military necessity will permit, religiously respect the constitutional rights of all. George B. McClellan
A military is built to fight. Our military must regard combat capability as the criterion to meet in all its work and focus on how to win when it is called on. Xi Jinping
The other thing that happened was my last military assignment – this was in the air force; I had enlisted in order to avoid being drafted as a private, and of course I only practiced medicine or psychiatry in the air force so I was never in any kind of violent combat. Robert Jay Lifton
My schools were quite diverse – those who serve their country come from every race and religion – and so the military schools I attended were a wonderful melting pot. Marcia Gay Harden
Amateurs do tactics, experts do logistics, as we learn in the military. Joe Sestak
I think ‘The Act of Killing’ forced people to look at the problem, but the problem is actually a state run by thugs, or a shadow state, a part of the state that’s run by thugs, and a military that enjoys complete legal – not just impunity, but immunity. Joshua Oppenheimer
War is too serious a matter to entrust to military men. Georges Clemenceau
The military might of a country represents its national strength. Only when it builds up its military might in every way can it develop into a thriving country. Kim Jong-un
We must never forget why we have, and why we need our military. Our armed forces exist solely to ensure our nation is safe, so that each and every one of us can sleep soundly at night, knowing we have ‘guardians at the gate.’ Allen West
The British were indeed very far superior to the Americans in every respect necessary to military operations, except the revivified courage and resolution, the result of sudden success after despair. Mercy Otis Warren
The Defense Department’s plan to ban newspaper reporters from pool coverage of military operations is incredible. It reveals the administration to be out of touch with journalism, reality and the First Amendment. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger
All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. Abraham Lincoln
The spirit of this country is totally adverse to a large military force. Thomas Jefferson
In the military, they give medals for people who are willing to sacrifice themselves so that others may survive. In business, we give bonuses to people who sacrifice others. Simon Sinek
Military strength in reserve is better than military strength being reigned upon the other side including all of its innocent civilians. Theodore C. Sorensen
War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans. Niccolo Machiavelli
Controlled aggression, to me, is one of the most important traits to have. To have that social intelligence to know when to exert aggression in the military environment, and when to stay calm, cool, and collected. Jonny Kim
It’s like a muscle – if you stop going to the gym or stop running, you get weak. The military teaches you these great values, but we don’t keep up the discipline on our own, and we lose it. So wherever you go, keep that discipline up. David Goggins
Today on the NATO line, our military forces face east to prevent a possible invasion. On the other side of the line, the Soviet forces also face east to prevent their people from leaving. Ronald Reagan
Neither science, nor the politics in power, nor the mass media, nor business, nor the law nor even the military are in a position to define or control risks rationally. Ulrich Beck
Real heroes don’t wear capes. Real superheroes wear uniforms and badges and stethoscopes! Real superheroes are members of our military, law enforcement, and first responders. Pretend superheroes wear capes! Dean Cain
But courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity, or, if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility. Erwin Rommel
I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country’s most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. Smedley Butler
Israel’s pro-American orientation exists not just among Israeli elites but also among the whole population. Come what may in Israel, it’s inconceivable that this fundamental orientation will change. Combined with its overwhelming military power, this makes Israel a unique and irreplaceable American asset in the Middle East. Norman Finkelstein
For years, European leaders have pointed out that Europe is an economic giant, but a military pygmy. Lord Robertson
You know, rural Americans are a special people. Their labor puts food on our table and fuel in our gas tanks. Their service in our military sets a powerful example of leadership, honor and sacrifice. Their spirit of community inspires us all. Tom Vilsack
Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty. George Washington
The battle against terrorism is not only a military fight but primarily a battle of information. Ahmed Chalabi
I am opposed to the military use of animals. I am also opposed to the military use of men. B. F. Skinner
A piece of spaghetti or a military unit can only be led from the front end. George S. Patton
Pearl Harbor remains a symbol of American resilience and resolve, and we pray for all those that have served and continue to serve in our military. May we never forget their bravery and sacrifice. Jim Justice
To take over a government through military force would create instability, and it would not last for long. I do not want to leave a legacy of having taken over the government through military means. It has never occurred to me to have a coup d’etat. Suharto
On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind. Dan Lipinski
I’m very much in the trenches, and I don’t live in the lap of luxury. I come from a working-class military family. We watch the news and read the paper and vote, so there’s always something to be upset about. I always have a certain amount of angst in my back pocket. Pink
At their core, Americans all want the same basic things: a quality education for their children, a good job so they can provide for their families, healthcare and affordable prescription drugs, security during retirement, a strongly equipped military and national security. Ruben Hinojosa
In the 20th century, the United States endured two world wars and other traumatic and expensive military conflicts; the Depression; a dozen or so recessions and financial panics; oil shocks; a flu epidemic; and the resignation of a disgraced president. Yet the Dow rose from 66 to 11,497. Warren Buffett
Never forget that no military leader has ever become great without audacity. Carl von Clausewitz
I love working out. It’s my release. I’ve done it since I’ve been in the military. Robert Irvine
For good or for ill, air mastery is today the supreme expression of military power and fleets and armies, however vital and important, must accept a subordinate rank. Winston Churchill
My definition, the definition that I’ve always believed in, is that esprit de corps means love for one’s own military legion – in my case, the United States Marine Corps. It means more than self-preservation, religion, or patriotism. I’ve also learned that this loyalty to one’s corps travels both ways: up and down. Chesty Puller
My martial arts came a lot from my uncle, who actually taught martial arts through the military. He was a black belt in tae kwon do, but also, he used a lot of military-style fighting where it’s not the high kicks or anything like that. It’s basically defeat your opponent as fast as possible. Brian Tee
Growing up on a farm, I saw that if I didn’t go to the military or go to school, and I knew my mom and my family wasn’t going to be able to send me to school out of their pocket, so it basically came down to athletics. I knew I didn’t want to work on a farm. I knew I didn’t want to do manual labor the rest of my life. Shannon Sharpe
After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn’t do it. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to live in a society where the only people allowed guns are the police and the military. William S. Burroughs
Being a unique superpower undermines the military intelligence of strategy. To think strategically, one has to imagine oneself in the enemy’s place. If one cannot do this, it is impossible to foresee, to take by surprise, to outflank. Misinterpreting an enemy can lead to defeat. This is how empires fall. John Berger
Israel is now sustaining a war for its own existence. A nation defending its citizens against terrorist bombings and a military and diplomatic onslaught by an array of Arab foes is practicing survival, not genocide. Jack Schwartz
Nothing matures a military force quicker than actual military operations. Duncan Hunter
I look forward to a great future for America – a future in which our country will match its military strength with our moral restraint, its wealth with our wisdom, its power with our purpose. John F. Kennedy
Airplanes are interesting toys, but of no military value. Ferdinand Foch
Strong government doesn’t mean simply military power or an efficient intelligence apparatus. Instead, it should mean effective, fair administration – in other words, ‘good governance.’ Raghuram Rajan
Obama was late to affirm the Egyptian revolution as a democratic movement, and even then he was eager to have installed those military leaders who were known for their practices of torture. Judith Butler
Always expect the unexpected. Right around Thanksgiving, when the new Alex Cross will be out. It’s called Four Blind Mice and it’s a pretty amazing story about several murders inside the military. James Patterson
Unfortunately, my dad had a brain tumor, and my father-in-law passed away from leukemia, so I spend a lot of time on those two causes. I also tend to support military charities like Warrior Gateway, which helps guys transition from combat back into civilian life. Anthony Scaramucci
I saw courage both in the Vietnam War and in the struggle to stop it. I learned that patriotism includes protest, not just military service. John F. Kerry
The image of Russian troops pouring into Ukraine and encircling military units in Crimea has been a wake-up call that will reverberate for a generation. Victor Ponta
I really do inhabit a system in which words are capable of shaking the entire structure of government, where words can prove mightier than ten military divisions. Vaclav Havel
We hire military veterans because they make great employees. They bring proven technical and leadership skills. They understand teamwork, and they’re adaptable. Bottom line, hiring veterans is good for business. Randall L. Stephenson
Man is a military animal, glories in gunpowder, and loves parade. Philip James Bailey
When you’re out in the military situation, you can’t take pictures at night because flashlights. So at night and in bad weather and in dark weather, the cameras went into the fish tackling box, which was waterproof, and I would just use my mind and try to keep quotes there and write down little stories. Horst Faas
A family’s love is often the best medicine, and in difficult times, I believe that our military families deserve the option of staying together. John Delaney
I am a retired United States Marine Corporal and I started out in 2nd Battalion Night Marines on my deployment and I finished my career in the Marine Corps at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as a patient. Kyle Carpenter
It is the duty of our men to enroll themselves in the national services. We need all our manpower for defence. For the military and… we need a quarter of a million men. Eamon de Valera
I often wonder what I will be remembered in history for. Scholar? Military hero? Builder? Ferdinand Marcos
Like the old soldier of the ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Goodbye. Douglas MacArthur
I heard an Israeli speaking on Palestinian human rights issues, an interesting guy, and he said ‘There’s no military solution to terrorism. If there were, Israel would be the safest place in the world. But there’s no military solution.’ Bradley Whitford
Government has three primary functions. It should provide for military defense of the nation. It should enforce contracts between individuals. It should protect citizens from crimes against themselves or their property. Milton Friedman