James Mattis famous quotes

You are part of the world's most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.
-- James Mattis

#Brain #Enemy #World

Demonstrate to the world there is 'No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy' than a U.S. Marine.
-- James Mattis

#Marine #Marine Corps #Enemy

The most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears.
-- James Mattis

#Enemy #Important #Ears

There are some people who think you have to hate them in order to shoot them. I don't think you do. It's just business.
-- James Mattis

#Hate #Thinking #Order

If in order to kill the enemy you have to kill an innocent, don't take the shot. Don't create more enemies than you take out by some immoral act.
-- James Mattis

#Order #Enemy #Innocent

In this age, I don't care how tactically or operationally brilliant you are, if you cannot create harmony-even vicious harmony-on the battlefield based on trust across service lines, across coalition and national lines, and across civilian/military lines, you need to go home, because your leadership is obsolete. We have got to have officers who can create harmony across all those lines.
-- James Mattis

#Military #Home #Enemy

No war is over until the enemy says it's over. We may think it over, we may declare it over, but in fact, the enemy gets a vote.
-- James Mattis

#War #Thinking #Enemy

We've backed off in good faith to try and give you a chance to straighten this problem out. But I am going to beg with you for a minute. I'm going to plead with you, do not cross us. Because if you do, the survivors will write about what we do here for 10,000 years.
-- James Mattis

#Writing #Years #Giving

I don't lose any sleep at night over the potential for failure. I cannot even spell the word.
-- James Mattis

#Sleep #Night #Enemy

You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the brutal facts. If they start living in a dream world, it's going to be bad.
-- James Mattis

#Dream #People #Enemy

Be the hunter, not the hunted: Never allow your unit to be caught with its guard down.
-- James Mattis

#Military #Hunters #Caught

Fight with a happy heart.
-- James Mattis

#Heart #Fighting #Enemy

Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until they're so sick of the killing that they leave us and our freedoms intact.
-- James Mattis

#Sick #Enemy #Democracy

You can overcome wrong technology. Your people have the initiative, they see the problem, no big deal ... you can't overcome bad culture. You've gotta change whoever is in charge.
-- James Mattis

#Military #Technology #People

Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
-- James Mattis

#Bad Ass #Ass #Polite

Ultimately, a real understanding of history means that we face NOTHING new under the sun.
-- James Mattis

#Military #Real #Mean

An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.
-- James Mattis

#Military #Marine #Accomplishment

There are hunters and there are victims. By your discipline, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.
-- James Mattis

#Military #Discipline #Hunters

I would happily storm hell in the company of these troops ... how strongly they have demonstrated to the world that free men and women can fight like the dickens.
-- James Mattis

#Fighting #Marine #Men

There is nothing better than getting shot at and missed. It's really great.
-- James Mattis

#Military #Shots #Really Great

PowerPoint makes us stupid.
-- James Mattis

#Stupid #Enemy #Powerpoint

You've been told that you're broken, that you're damaged goods and should be labeled victims. I don't buy it. The truth, instead, is that you are the only folks with the skills, determination, and values to ensure American dominance in this chaotic world.
-- James Mattis

#Veterans Day #Determination #Skills

We have the most skillful, firecest, and certainly the most ethical ground forces in the world... I'm not saying we have to commit right now, but certainly don't pull it off the table.
-- James Mattis

#Military #World #Tables

It's quite fun to fight them, you know. It's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up front with you, I like brawling.
-- James Mattis

#Peace #Fun #War

For the mission's sake, for our country's sake, and the sake of the men who carried the Division's colors in past battles - "who fought for life and never lost their nerve" - carry out your mission and keep your honor clean. Demonstrate to the world there is "No Better Friend - No Worse Enemy" than a US Marine.
-- James Mattis

#Country #Marine #Past

You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them. Actually it's quite fun to fight them, you know. It's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up there with you. I like brawling.
-- James Mattis

#Fun #Fighting #Years

The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event. That said, there are some *******s in the world that just need to be shot. There are hunters and there are victims. By your discipline, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.
-- James Mattis

#Blow #Discipline #Enemy

A country that armed Stalin to defeat Hitler can certainly work alongside enemies of al-Qaida to defeat al-Qaida.
-- James Mattis

#Country #Enemy #Als

Treachery has existed as long as there's been warfare, and there's always been a few people that you couldn't trust.
-- James Mattis

#Long #People #Enemy

You've been told that you're broken. That you're damaged goods ... there is also Post-Traumatic Growth. You come back from war stronger and more sure of who you are.
-- James Mattis

#Military #War #Broken