36 Great Leadership Thoughts From General George S. Patton

US General George S Patton, Jr. was a very successful and controversial leader in the US Army.  He served the United States from 1909 when he accepted his first commission in the US Army until his death in 1945.

General George S. Patton left us a legacy of written documents and speeches from which we’ve collected many of the leadership quotes included below.  His thoughts have been grouped into three categories:

• Leading
• Mindset
• Winning

As you read through these quotes, consider how they compare with your own leadership philosophies and tenants.

Patton Quotes About Leading

“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.” – General George S. Patton

“In war, nothing is ever as bad, or as good, as it is reported to higher headquarters.” – General George S. Patton

“A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances.” – General George S. Patton

“There are no practice games in life.  It’s eat or be eaten, kill or be killed.  I want my bunch to get in there first, to be the ‘fustest with the mostest.” – General George S. Patton

“Select leaders for accomplishment and not for affection.” – General George S. Patton

“Generals must never show doubt, discouragement, or fatigue.” – General George S. Patton

“In cold weather, General Officers must be careful not to appear to dress more warmly than the men.” – General George S. Patton

“Officers must assert themselves by example and voice.” – General George S. Patton

“The responsibilities of an officer are quite analogous to those of a policeman or a fireman. The better he performs his daily tasks, the less frequently does he have to take direct action.” – General George S. Patton

“All officers, and particularly General Officers, must be vitally interested in everything that interests a soldier.  Usually, you will gain a great deal of knowledge by being interested, but even if you do not, the fact that you appear interested has a very high morale influence on the soldier.” – General George S. Patton

“When in doubt, observe and ask questions. When certain, observe at a length and ask many more questions.” – General George S. Patton

“A good commander will never express an opinion! A commander knows!  No one cares what your opinion is…you can be wrong, but never be in doubt when you speak!” – General George S. Patton

“The more senior the officer, the more time he has. Therefore, the senior should go forward to visit the junior rather than call the junior back to see him.” – General George S. Patton

“It takes the right mixture of common horse sense and stupidity to make a good commander.” – General George S. Patton

“Do more than is required of you.” – General George S. Patton

“Remember that your primary mission as a leader is to see with your own eyes and to be seen by the troops when engaged in personal reconnaissance.” – General George S. Patton

“An Army is a team. It lives, sleeps, eats, and fights as a team. This individual heroic stuff is a stupid lie.” – General George S. Patton

Patton Quotes About Mindset

“Wars are lost in the mind before they are lost on the ground.  No nation was ever defeated until the people were willing to accept defeat.” – General George S. Patton

“Anyone in any walk of life who is content with mediocrity is untrue to himself and to American tradition.” – General George S. Patton

“Lead me, follow me, or get the hell out of my way.” – General George S. Patton

“I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.” – General George S. Patton

“We must have a superiority complex. Always attack. Never surrender.” – General George S. Patton

“If you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do, the body is never tired if the mind is not tired.” – General George S. Patton

“You are not beaten until you admit it. Hence don’t.” – General George S. Patton

“A war may be fought with weapons but won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.” – General George S. Patton

“You need to overcome the tug of people against you as you reach for high goals.” – General George S. Patton

“No one is thinking if everyone is thinking alike.” – General George S. Patton

“My theory is that an army commander does what is necessary to accomplish his mission and that nearly eighty percent of his mission is to arouse morale in his men.” – General George S. Patton

Patton Quotes About How to Win

“Prepare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable.” – General George S. Patton

“Have been giving everyone a simplified directive of war. Use steamroller strategy; that is, make up your mind on course and direction of action, and stick to it. But in tactics, do not steamroller. Attack weaknesses.” – General George S. Patton

“Wars are not won by defensive tactics.” – General George S. Patton

“Always attack. Never surrender.” – General George S. Patton

“Go forward.” – General George S. Patton

“A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood.” – General George S. Patton

“One must choose a system and stick to it.” – General George S. Patton

“A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan next week.” – General George S. Patton

We hope you’ve enjoyed these leadership quotes from George S. Patton.  Which thoughts were most meaningful to you?  Leave a comment below.

To see more quotes from US Military leaders, click here.

Make it a great day!