James Mattis Quotes
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There are going to be good days and bad days. Bottom line.
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I don't lose any sleep at night over the potential for failure. I cannot even spell the word.
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I don't worry about stress. I create it.
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The fundamental question I believe is, 'Is political Islam in our best interest?' If not, what is our policy to authoritatively support the countervailing forces?
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I don't have the best track record with quotes.
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Prime Minister Maliki, released from American restraint, acted on his worst instincts, creating enormous distrust in Iraq's Kurdish population and deeply embittering Sunnis in western Iraq's Al Anbar, who lost any confidence in a Baghdad government they saw as adversarial.
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The Corps is in good hands, and it's been a privilege to serve with the Leathernecks. Now it's time to go.
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Wherever the enemy wants to fight, we will follow him to the ends of the Earth. We'll adapt, we'll train, we'll advise, we'll mentor, and we'll fight, and we'll fight well.
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I would storm the gates of Hell if Third Marine Air Wing was overhead.
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I was a Marine for 41 years, and it wasn't long enough. We enjoy putting on that uniform.
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While victimhood in America is exalted, I don't think our veterans should join those ranks.
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I'm on record that it didn't really traumatize me to do away with some people.
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Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.
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We all recognize that the Mid-east is dissolving into crises, and we know terrorism did not start with 9-11.
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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.
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Basically, Islamic State is a combined al Qaeda and Lebanese Hezbollah on steroids, destabilizing the region, dissolving borders/changing the political geography in the Mid-east, and hardening political positions that make Mid-east peace-building more remote by the day.
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I like the enemy knowing there are a few guys like me around.
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Gains achieved at great cost against our enemy in Afghanistan are reversible.
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The U.S. military is not war weary. Our military draws strength from confronting our enemies when clear policy objectives are set and we are fully resourced for the fight.
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You must reward the kind of behavior that you want.
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I've had some 'riotous excursions of the human spirit' alongside the young Sailors and Marines, and it's time to leave the stage to the young leaders who got their rank the old-fashioned way - they earned their stripes in combat.
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It's not an easy course. It's not designed to be. We're not here to get you in touch with your inner child.
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The military can buy our diplomats some time.
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The Army was always big on Clausewitz, the Prussian; the Navy on Alfred Thayer Mahan, the American; and the Air Force on Giulio Douhet, the Italian. But the Marine Corps has always been more Eastern-oriented. I am much more comfortable with Sun-tzu and his approach to warfare.