War As I Knew It - The Quotation Index

History George S. Patton

War As I Knew It

By George S. Patton · 1947

Patton’s account of his Second World War campaigns, combining battlefield experiences with observations on command, tactics, discipline, and military leadership.

Author

George S. Patton

Form

Memoir

Genre

Military history War memoir

Date

1947

Editions

The book was first published posthumously in 1947. It was edited by Patton’s widow, Beatrice Ayer Patton, and annotated by Col Paul D. Harkins, his deputy chief of staff. It was compiled from Patton’s diaries, letters and other writings.

The book has been reprinted many times and published in several editions, but Patton’s text has remained largely unchanged because he died before publication and was therefore unable to revise it. Differences between editions are mainly in the accompanying material, including introductions, forewords and, in some cases, maps or notes.

Tags

Second World War (12)US Third Army (1)Armoured warfare (2)Battle of the Bulge (3)Military leadership (2)

War As I Knew It recounts George S. Patton’s experiences as an American commander during the Second World War. Drawing on his letters, diaries and other writings, the book covers campaigns in North Africa and Sicily before focusing on the US Third Army’s advance across Western Europe from 1944 to 1945. Patton describes operations in France, the fighting around Metz and the Saar, the Battle of the Bulge, and the subsequent advance through Germany into Czechoslovakia and Austria.

Alongside his account of military operations, Patton discusses command, discipline, training, logistics and the conduct of mobile warfare. His observations reflect his emphasis on speed, initiative and offensive action, while also recording disagreements, difficulties and decisions encountered during the campaigns. Published posthumously in 1947, the memoir was assembled from Patton’s writings and provides a first-hand record of his approach to warfare and his experiences commanding large formations in Europe.

Quotes

“A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan next week.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“Hold them by the nose and kick them in the pants.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“Commanders must remember that the issuance of an order, or the devising of a plan, is only about five per cent of the responsibility of command. The other ninety-five per cent is to insure, by personal observation, or through the interposing of staff officers, that the order is carried out.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood!”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“Do not take counsel of your fears.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“I believe in fighting until lack of supplies forces you to stop—then digging in.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“It is better to attack with a small force at once, and attain surprise, than it is to wait and lose it.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“As usual on the verge of action, everyone felt full of doubt except myself. It has always been my unfortunate role to be the ray of sunshine and the backslapper before action, both for those under me and also those over me.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“I still adhered to my theory, that in order to keep the Germans from attacking, we had to attack.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“One continues to learn about war by practicing war.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“The lesson to be gained from this is that successful generals make plans to fit circumstances, but do not try to create circumstances to fit plans.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“We took advantage of a theory of our own, that the impossible place is usually the least well defended.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“In war nothing is ever as bad, or as good, as it is reported to Higher Headquarters.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“My theory is that an army commander does what is necessary to accomplish his mission, and that nearly eighty per cent of his mission is to arouse morale in his men.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“I directed him to carry it out, stating that if he succeeded he would get the full credit, and that if he failed, I would take the blame.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“Fatigue produces pessimism.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“Plans must be simple and flexible. Actually they only form a datum plane from which you build as necessity directs or opportunity offers. They should be made by the people who are going to execute them.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“There is only one kind of discipline—PERFECT DISCIPLINE.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“One look is worth one hundred reports.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“The point I am trying to bring out is that one does not plan and then try to make circumstances fit those plans. One tries to make plans fit the circumstances. I think the difference between success and failure in high command depends upon the ability, or lack of it, to do just that.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“Tired officers are always pessimists.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“In carrying out a mission, the promulgation of the order represents not over ten per cent of your responsibility. The remaining ninety per cent consists in assuring by means of personal supervision on the ground, by yourself and your staff, proper and vigorous execution.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

“A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution ten minutes later.”

George S. Patton · War As I Knew It, 1947 · Primary source

Explore the author

George S. Patton

23 quotes · 1 works · 43 themes · 111 tags

Quotes

“A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan next week.”“Hold them by the nose and kick them in the pants.”“A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood!”

Themes

Action over perfection Cost of delay Fatigue distorts judgement

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