Home / Topics / Military Quotes

Military Quotes

Browse 4765 quotes about Military.

Military Quotes

“First, the constitution ought to secure a genuine and guard against a select militia, by providing that the militia shall always be kept well organized, armed, and disciplined, and include, according to the past and general usuage of the states, all men capable of bearing arms; and that all regulations tending to render this general militia useless and defenceless, by establishing select corps of militia, or distinct bodies of military men, not having permanent interests and attachments in the community to be avoided.”

“According to true military art, one should never push one's enemy to the point of despair, because such a state multiplies his strength and increases his courage which had already been crushed and failing, and because there is no better remedy for the health of beaten and overwhelmed men than the absence of all hope.”

Men Should Art War States Enemy Failing Military Despair Increase Absence Remedy Beaten Overwhelmed Crushed

Author:Francois Rabelais

“It is not a struggle merely of economic theories, or forms of government or of military power. At issue is the true nature of man. Either man is the creature whom the psalmist described as a little lower than the angels ... or man is a soulless, animated machine to be enslaved, used and consumed by the state for its own glorification. It is, therefore, a struggle which goes to the roots of the human spirit, and its shadow falls across the long sweep of man's destiny.”

“We all must be mindful that the United States has diplomatic, civilian, and military personnel deployed in other countries with both challenging security environments and active terrorist networks interested in targeting not just our facilities but our people. One of their greatest protections - knowing that the United States does not negotiate with terrorists - has been compromised.”

“The United States military is now using the music of Metallica and other heavy metal bands to break the will of Saddam Hussein supporters to get them to talk. Theyre blaring heavy metal music at them. That should make the artist feel pretty good, huh? Put your heart and soul into your last CD and the Army is using it to torture people.”

“Some people have criticized the United States and the United States military for guarding oil fields and not guarding the Iraqi National Museum which had priceless antiquities in it. They say that this shows a fundamental lack of respect for Iraqi history. I want to remind those people of this: The oldest relics in the museum, 5,000 or 6,000 years old. That oil is 65 million years old. You had to guard that. ... Those antiquities will only last another 5,000 or 6,000 years. When we burn that oil, those fumes will linger long after.”

“I have heard the critics. What they are spewing are lies, nothing more. My defense policy calls for an efficient and strong military for our country. We live in dangerous times, but we must remember that we have to defend the United States against dangerous and modern threats. The Cold War is ending. Defense hawks like Senator Nunn need to understand this.”

Needs War Country States Remember Lying Strong United United States Heard Modern Military Dangerous Policy Cold Threat Critics Defense Our Country Efficient Senators Cold War Hawks

Author:Mario Cuomo

“There is a system of terroristic states-the real terror network-that has spread throughout Latin America and elsewhere over the past several decades, and which is deeply rooted in the corporate interest and sustaining political-military-financial propaganda mechanisms of the United States and its allies in the Free World.”

“The second corruption of the state is oligarchy (oligos = few), in which the military elite is narrowed down to a few ruling families of immense wealth and prestige, who now openly flaunt their wealth and possessions.”

States Wealth Military Possession Corruption Elites Immense Ruling Prestige Oligarchy

Book:The Corrupt Society: From Ancient Greece to Present-Day America

Source: The Corrupt Society: From Ancient Greece to Present-Day America

“President Vladimir Putin continues to call for new peace plans as his troops roll through the Ukrainian countryside and he absolutely ignores every agreement that his country has signed in the past and he has signed recently, we, the United States, and Europe as a whole, have to stand with Ukraine at this moment. Ukraine needs our financial assistance and support as it pursues reforms and even in the face, in the face of this military onslaught.”

“Do not degrade me in the military uniform I wear for it represents the love I have for my country, and the sacrifices myself and millions of other American soldiers make everyday to protect the freedom we enjoy by living in the United States of America.”

“Israel is in the midst of a difficult military and diplomatic campaign against terrorists. An organisation that works to prove allegations that Israel is committing war crimes should be so good as to do so with its own resources and not with civilian national service volunteers and state funds.”

Should War States Difficult Military Crime Prove Resources Israel Campaigns Terrorist Fund Midst Volunteer Civilians Organisation Diplomatic War Crimes Allegations National Service

Author:Uri Orbach

“The big issue is whether the United States will succeed in its venture of reshaping the Middle East. It is not clear to me that using military force is the way to do it. We should not have gone into Iraq. But we have.”

Way Should States Bigs Force United United States Gone Issues Clear Middle Military Succeed Iraq East Middle East Venture Military Force

Author:Milton Friedman

“No power but Congress can declare war; but what is the value of this constitutional provision, if the President of his own authority may make such military movements as must bring on war? ... [T]hese remarks originate purely in a desire to maintain the powers of government as they are established by the Constitution between the different departments, and hope that, whether we have conquests or no conquests, war or no war, peace or no peace, we shall yet preserve, in its integrity and strength, the Constitution of the United States.”

“No state, furthermore, unless it has aggressive military designs such as those which consumed Nazi leaders in the thirties, is likely to divert to defense any more of its resources and wealth and energy than seems necessary.”

States Seems Energy Wealth Leader Military Design Resources Defense Aggressive Nazi Consumed

Book:The Four Faces of Peace and the International Outlook: Statements

Source: The Four Faces of Peace and the International Outlook: Statements

“The United States is not only number one in military power but also in the effectiveness of its propaganda system.”

States United Numbers United States Military Propaganda Effectiveness Military Power

Author:Edward S. Herman

“Any brief military advantage the USA might gain with nuclear weapons would be offset by political and psychological losses and damage to American prestige. The United States might even touch off a worldwide armaments race.”

States Might Would Be Political Loss United Race United States Military Weapons Gains Advantage Nuclear Psychological Usa Damage Nuclear Weapons Prestige Armament

Author:Albert Einstein

“I do believe that the very tense relationship between the United States and Iran presents a challenge to the United States. But to discuss Iran as that type of a threat I find somewhat unconvincing, mindful of the fact that Iran actually doesn't have those military capabilities that would be needed to refer to it as that type of threat.”

Believe States Facts Would Be Challenges United United States Military Type Needed Threat Iran Capability Tense

Author:Trita Parsi

“Oil is also essential for military operations. No other substance, no other raw material, is so vital for the prosecution of warfare, than petroleum. And the United States being the world's only global power, is totally dependent on petroleum.”

World States United United States Military Materials Essentials Oil Substance Operations Dependent Warfare Raw Materials Prosecution Petroleum Military Operations

Author:Michael Klare

“Iran is hard to understand. Although it is ruled in an authoritarian manner, it's not a state in which everything is controlled from one center. There are many forces that work in parallel: the military, the intelligence service, the Revolutionary Guard, the clergy and the government. They all share a fear of the nation's youth.”

Hard States Government Force Nations Share Military Youth Revolutionary Iran Controlled Parallels Clergy Intelligence Services

Author:Shahin Najafi

“The kids of those that came here illegally, those kids, I think, should have a pathway to become a permanent resident of the United States and military service, for instance, is one way they would have that kind of pathway to become a permanent resident.”

Thinking Way Should Kind States Kids United United States Military Should Have Instance One Way Permanent Pathways Residents Military Service

Author:Mitt Romney

“Nation building is our central task, both in Afghanistan and in Iraq. And states, nations can't just be built with military power. Despite all difficulties, it's very inspiring to see how the Kurds, the Arab Sunnis and the Shiites are coming together here, how they're jointly defining the basis on which their state is to be built, the political course this state will pursue and who is to receive which cabinet positions.”

“But perhaps the most important difference between conservatives and liberals can be found in the area of national security. Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers. In the wake of 9/11, conservatives believed it was time to unleash the might and power of the United States military against the Taliban.”

“And after September the 11th, the United States Congress also granted me additional authority to use military force against al Qaeda. . . .”

States Use Force United United States Military Authority Congress Granted Als September Al Qaeda Military Force

Author:George W. Bush

“Throughout the twentieth century and into the beginning of the twenty-first, the United States repeatedly used its military power, and that of its clandestine services, to overthrow governments that refused to protect American interests. Each time, it cloaked its intervention in the rhetoric of national security and liberation. In most cases, however, it acted mainly for economic reasons-specifically to establish, promote and defend the right of Americans to do business around the world without interference.”

Source: Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq

“The real threat to U.S. military power is nuclear proliferation, because if every little country has nuclear weapons it becomes very tricky for the United States to engage in military action.”

Ifs Littles Real Country States Action United United States Military Weapons Threat Nuclear Nuclear Weapons Tricky Proliferation Military Power Nuclear Proliferation Military Action

Author:Immanuel Wallerstein

“It's important. One of the principles in the United States is civilian control of the military.”

Important States United Principles United States Military Civilians

Author:Wesley Clark

“I think they should let gays in the military because we are the United States of America. And if a gay person wants to serve his or her country, why should they not be allowed to?”

Ifs Thinking Want Should Persons Country States America United United States Military Gay United States Of America

Author:Jesse Ventura

“There are some who've forgotten why we have a military. It's not to promote war. It's to be prepared for peace. There's a sign over the entrance to the Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington state, and that sign says it all: 'Peace is our profession'.”

War States Force Air Military Prepared Forgotten Profession Be Prepared Entrances Air Force Washington State

Book:Speaking my mind: selected speeches

Source: Speaking my mind: selected speeches

“The progress of manufactures and commerce insensibly collects a large multitude within the walls of a city: but these citizens are no longer soldiers; and the arts which adorn and improve the state of civil society, corrupt the habits of the military life.”

Art States Cities Progress Military Wall Habit Citizens Soldier Commerce Multitudes Civil Society Military Life

Book:The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Source: The Collected Works of Edward Gibbon: Historical Works, Autobiographical Writings and Private Letters, Including The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“The question was never whether the United States, E.U., NATO, Arab League, U.N. Security Council, and African Union could together using economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and military attacks to bring Qaddafi down. The question was always how much time, how much blood, and what damage to NATO.”

States Together United United States Blood Economic Security Military Pressure Unions League Damage Council Sanctions Nato Diplomatic Security Council Economic Sanctions African Union

Author:Elliott Abrams

“The population becomes the internal enemy. Any sign of life, of protest, or even mere doubt, is a dangerous challenge from the standpoint of military doctrine and national security. So complicated mechanisms of prevention adn punishment have been developed ... To operate effectively, the repression must appear arbitrary. Apart from breathing, any human activity can constitute a crime ... State terrorism aims to paralyze the population with fear.”

“Let me be clear: I'm a believer in a robust military, which is essential for backing up diplomacy. But the implication is that we need a balanced tool chest of diplomatic and military tools alike. Instead, we have a billionaire military and a pauper diplomacy. The U.S. military now has more people in its marching bands than the State Department has in its foreign service - and that's preposterous.”

“Say whatever you want. But the United States has a kickass military and really good bullshit marketing people. If this country was a person it would be a used car salesman with a flamethrower.”

People Ifs Want Persons Country States Would Be Used United United States Military Car Marketing Bullshit Salesman Used Car Car Salesman Kickass Used Car Salesman

Author:Richard Jeni

“It [military action on Iraq] makes me feel ashamed to come from the United States. It is humiliating.”

Feels States Action United United States Military Iraq Ashamed Humiliating Military Action

Author:Jessica Lange

“How can the United States be competitive globally if higher education is unaffordable? Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Scotland and Sweden have no tuition for college. Other countries have low tuition. We need the best educated workforce in the world. Instead of spending endless amounts on the military, we need to invest in our young people.”

“In two weeks the sheeplike masses of any country can be worked up by the newspapers into such a state of excited fury that men are prepared to put on uniforms and kill and be killed, for the sake of the sordid ends of a few interested parties. Compulsory military service seems to me the most disgraceful symptom of that deficiency in personal dignity from which civilized mankind is suffering today.”

“Reparations - not just aid - should be provided by those responsible for devastating Iraqi civilian society by cruel sanctions and military actions, and - together with other criminal states - for supporting Saddam Hussein through his worst atrocities and beyond. That is the minimum that honesty requires.”

Should States Action Together Worst Military Honesty Responsible Aids Criminals Minimum Saddam Hussein Civilians Sanctions Atrocities Reparations Military Action

Author:Noam Chomsky

“Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force.”

Mean States America Force Interest United United States Clear Military Position Gains Including Regions United States Of America Assault Persian Military Force Persian Gulf

Book:Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President

Source: Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President

“It is no longer a question of controlling a military-industrial complex, but rather, of keeping the United States from becoming a totally military culture.”

States Culture United United States Military Becoming Complexes Military Industrial Complex

Author:Jerome Wiesner

“United States has comparative advantage in military force. It tends to react to anything at first with military force, that's what it's good at. And I think they overdid it. There was more military force than was necessary.”

Thinking Firsts States Force United United States Military Advantage Military Force Comparative Advantage

Author:Noam Chomsky

“I will not speak to Vladimir Putin personally until we've rebuilt the 6th Fleet a little bit right under his nose; rebuilt the missile defense program in Poland right under his nose; and conducted a few military exercises in the Baltic states.”

Littles States Speak Bits Military Exercise Little Bit Program Defense Noses Putin Missiles Poland Missile Defense

Author:Carly Fiorina

“The world spends two trillion dollars a year on military, and of that two trillion the United States spends one trillion. We have a bigger military than the rest of the world put together. We have 150 foreign military bases.”

World Years Two States Together United United States Military Bases Bigger Dollars Military Bases

Author:Bill Ayers

“The universalism of Islam, in its all-embracing creed, is imposed on the believers as a continuous process of warfare, psychological and political, if not strictly military. . . . The Jihad, accordingly, may be stated as a doctrine of a permanent state of war, not continuous fighting.”

Ifs May War States Political Fighting Process Military Islam Believer Doctrine Psychological Permanent Creeds Warfare Jihad Universalism

Author:Majid Khadduri

“The cost of an on-site inspection team would be minuscule compared to war, Saddam would have no choice except to comply, the results would be certain, military and civilian casualties would be avoided, there would be almost unanimous worldwide support, and the United States could regain its leadership in combating the real threat of international terrorism.”

“The United States is a violent military state. It's been involved in military action all over the place.”

States Action United United States Military Involved Violent Military Action

Author:Noam Chomsky

“I've already heard from some military commanders who feel they've been undercut by the vice president of the United States, and there's a lot of justification for their view.”

Feels States President United Views United States Heard Military Vices Justification Commanders Vice President Undercut

Author:John McCain

“I'll tell you what they're all going to face, whichever one of them becomes president on January 21st of 2009. They will face a military force - a United States military force that cannot sustain - continually sustain 140,000 people deployed in Iraq and the 20-odd or 25,000 people we have deployed in Afghanistan and our other deployments.”

People States Faces Force President United United States Military Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Military Force United States Military

Author:Colin Powell

“Being an American journalist can put people on the defensive. In countries where people assume the press is partisan, like in Lebanon, or where it had essentially become an extension of the government, like in Iraq, people tend to see a journalist as an agent of his or her government. That can be dangerous if the United States military is occupying their country, or aligned with their enemies.”

People Ifs Country States Government United Enemy United States Military Dangerous Presses Assuming Iraq Agents Journalist Extensions Partisans Lebanon United States Military

Author:Annia Ciezadlo

“Clearly the American military has been a force for good for the United States. There's a reason we have a standing military. But there's something to be said for having a much smaller military because then we wouldn't be tempted to get involved in things we shouldn't be getting involved in.”

Has Beens Said States Reason Force United United States Military Involved Standing Tempted Get Involved American Military

Author:Michael Hastings