But all history has taught us the grim lesson that no nation has ever been successful in avoiding the terrors of war by refusing to defend its rights – by attempting to placate aggression.
To be true to one’s own freedom is, in essence, to honor and respect the freedom of all others.
When pressure mounts and strain increases everyone begins to show the weaknesses in his makeup. It is up to the Commander to conceal his: above all to conceal doubt, fear, and distrust.
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
The best morale exist when you never hear the word mentioned. When you hear a lot of talk about it, it’s usually lousy.
The past sharpens perspective, warns against pitfalls, and helps to point the way.
Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers and the sacrifices of his friends.
Hope spurs humans everywhere to work harder to endure more now that the future may be better.
A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.
In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.
The most terrible job in warfare is to be a second lieutenant leading a platoon when you are on the battlefield.
Freedom bestows on us the priceless gift of opportunity – if we neglect our opportunities we shall certainly lose our freedom.
Life is certainly only worthwhile as it represents struggle for worthy causes. There is no struggle in perfect security. I am quite certain that the human being could not continue to exist if he or she had perfect security.
I am inclined by nature to be optimistic about the capacity of a person to rise higher than he or she has thought possible once interest and ambition are aroused.
Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed – else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.
Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow.
We are not saints. We know we make mistakes, but at least our heart is with the right cause.
I assure you that it is our desire and intention to keep the doors of consultation always and fully open. There must never be a final word between friends.
Any time we deny any citizen the full exercise of his constitutional rights, we are weakening our own claim to them.
The older I get the more wisdom I find in the ancient rule of taking first things first. A process which often reduces the most complex human problem to a manageable proportion.