34 Richard D. Winters Quotes (BAND OF BROTHERS)

Top 8 Quotes from Major Dick Winters From the 101st Airborne Division

One day my grandson said to me, grandpa were you a hero in the war? And i said to him no I'm not a hero, but I have served in a company full of them. — One day my grandson said to me, grandpa were you a hero in the war? And i said to him no I’m not a hero, but I have served in a company full of them.

Find your personal peace and solitude in a turbulent world. — Find your personal **peace** and **solitude** in a turbulent world.

War brings out the worst and the best in people. Wars do not make men great, but they do bring out the greatness in good men.

War exposes the best and worst of those who are called to fight. I know of no man who lacked character in peace and then discovered his character in combat. — War exposes the best and worst of those who are called to fight. I know of no man who lacked **character** in **peace** and then discovered his character in combat.

A man can get something from war that is impossible to acquire any place else.

War is romantic only to those who are far away from the sounds and turmoil of battle.

The key to being a successful combat leader is to earn respect, not because of rank, but because you are a man. — The key to being a **successful** combat leader is to earn **respect**, not because of rank, but because you are a man.

It is far easier to find quiet than to find peace. True peace must come from within oneself. — It is far easier to find quiet than to find **peace**. True peace must come from within oneself.

26 Inspirational Major Dick Winters Quotes about Life, Leadership, and War

“For those of us who served in Easy Company, and for those who served their country in other theaters, we came back as better men and women as a result of being in combat, and most would do it again if called upon. But each of us hoped that if we had learned anything from the experience it is that war is unreal, and we earnestly hoped that it would never happen again.”
Major Dick Winters

There is no need to tell someone how to do his job if you have properly trained your team.

If you are a leader, a fellow who other fellows look to, you have to keep going.

If you’re a leader, you lead the way. Not just on the easy ones. You take the tough ones too.

Physical stamina is the root of mental toughness. — Physical **stamina** is the root of mental toughness.

“That’s what officers must do—break the cycle of fear. If a soldier is concentrating on his own feelings and on his own fear, and he sees you moving around, he realizes that you’re sharing the burden with him. That’s why he can then move.”
Major Dick Winters

Because I was in such good shape, my fatigue level never reached the point of physical exhaustion that contributes to mental exhaustion and, ultimately, to combat fatigue.

We all experienced sleep deprivation at times—that is the nature of stress—but a physically exhausted leader routinely makes poor decisions in times of crisis. — We all experienced sleep deprivation at times—that is the **nature** of stress—but a physically exhausted leader routinely makes poor decisions in times of crisis.

I have always prided myself that I do my own thinking. I have my own philosophy. I have my own answer to the reasons things have turned out in my life. — I have always prided myself that I do my own thinking. I have my own **philosophy**. I have my own answer to the reasons things have turned out in my life.

If combat had taught me anything, it taught me what was essential in life and what wasn’t.

The only thing I asked for now was to be alive tomorrow morning and to survive another day. That was all that mattered... — The only thing I asked for now was to be alive tomorrow morning and to survive another day. That was all that mattered…

“I still regard Lewis Nixon as the best combat officer who I had the opportunity to work with under fire. He never showed fear, and during the toughest times he could always think clearly and quickly. Very few men can remain poised under an artillery concentration. Nixon was one of those officers.”
Major Dick Winters

The intensity of a fire, or a heavy concentration, to be a leader, you have to be able to concentrate on that fire and move just as soon as it stops or the last round hits. — The intensity of a fire, or a heavy **concentration**, to be a leader, you have to be able to concentrate on that fire and move just as soon as it stops or the last round hits.

The recurring theme which predisposes people to depression is rejection and lack of self-esteem. — The recurring theme which predisposes people to depression is **rejection** and lack of self-esteem.

The paratroopers were the best soldiers at the infantry school and I wanted to be with the best... — The paratroopers were the best soldiers at the infantry school and I wanted to be with the best…

Suicide is a very permanent solution to what is usually a temporary problem.

We’re paratroopers, Lieutenant. We’re supposed to be surrounded.

“True satisfaction comes from getting the job done… Ribbons, medals, and accolades, then, are poor substitutes to the ability to look yourself in the mirror every night and know that you did your best.”
Major Dick Winters

Never put yourself in a position where you can take from these men.

If you have character, that means the guy you are dealing with can trust you. — If you have **character**, that means the guy you are dealing with can **trust** you.

The men trust in you, have faith in you, and they obey, no questions asked. That’s character in a nutshell. — The men **trust** in you, have faith in you, and they obey, no questions asked. That’s **character** in a nutshell.

Lastly, ''Hang tough!'' Never, ever give up regardless of the adversity. — Lastly, ”Hang tough!” Never, ever give up regardless of the adversity.

Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.

“That night, I thanked God for seeing me through that day of days and prayed I would make it through D plus 1. I also promised that if some way I could get home again, I would find a nice peaceful town and spend the rest of my life in peace.”
Major Dick Winters

Major Dick Winter Short Biography

Born on 21 January 1918 in New Holland, Pennsylvania, United States, Richard Davis Winters (aka Dick Winters) was a decorated World War II veteran and an incredibly reliable officer of the 101st Airborne division of the United States Army.

Dick Winters was one of the most recognized officers in the entire 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (part of the 101st Airborne Division) during the Second World War in the European theatre.

Best known for being a first lieutenant for Easy Company of the 2nd Battalion, Winters and his band of brothers parachuted behind enemy’s lines in Nazi-occupied Normandy in the early hours of D-Day, June 6, 1944 (Operation Overlord).

Their main mission was to sabotage, capture, and clear all obstacles surrounding “causeway 2” – a route leading to Utah beach – to support the massive allied beach invasion of Normandy just a few hours later.

Dick Winters led his men to fight across France (Battle of Carentan), the Netherlands (Operation Market Garden), Belgium (Battle of the Bulge), and eventually to Germany (the capture Hitler’s Eagle Nest).

On 1 July 1944, Winters was promoted to Captain and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Omar N. Bradley.

Two months after the Attack on Foy in Belgium, Winters was promoted to Major on 8 March 1945, following the 2nd Battalion’s move to Haguenau. Shortly after his promotion, Winters was made acting commander of the entire 2nd Battalion.

Further reading:

The Way of the Monastic Warrior: Lessons from Major Dick Winters – Art of Manliness
10 Selfless Leadership Lessons from Major Dick Winters – David Schroeder
In Memory of Major Dick Winters – Fan Fun with Damian Lewis
The Legacy of Dick Winters – Penn Live
Reflections From Major Winters Of Easy Company – History Net

Here are the best Dick Winter quotes so you can strive to be a leader of character, competence, and courage.

(MUST READ)

**Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters**

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Top 8 Quotes from Major Dick Winters From the 101st Airborne Division

26 Inspirational Major Dick Winters Quotes about Life, Leadership, and War

Major Dick Winter Short Biography

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