Top 46 Douglas MacArthur Quotes (LEADERSHIP)

Updated onNovember 30, 2023

Top 10 Most Famous Douglas MacArthur Quotes (BEST)

You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope as old as your despair. — You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope as old as your despair.

The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. — The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.

You are remembered for the rules you break.

Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons.

I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within.

Part of the American dream is to live long and die young. Only those Americans who are willing to die for their country are fit to live. — Part of the American dream is to live long and die young. Only those Americans who are willing to die for their country are fit to live.

Life is a lively process of becoming.

Give me ten thousand Filipino soldiers and I will conquer the world.

Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.

There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity.

15 General Douglas MacArthur Quotes on Duty, Honor and Country (WAR)

“Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.”
Douglas MacArthur

Duty, Honor, Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. — Duty, Honor, Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.

The enemy is in front of us, the enemy is behind us, the enemy is to the right and to the left of us. They can't get away this time! — The enemy is in front of us, the enemy is behind us, the enemy is to the right and to the left of us. They can’t get away this time!

It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.

A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops under his command make him.

Never give an order that can't be obeyed. — Never give an order that can’t be obeyed.

We are not retreating - we are advancing in another direction. — We are not retreating – we are advancing in another direction.

The history of the failure of war can almost be summed up in two words too late. — The history of the failure of war can almost be summed up in two words: too late.

Once war is forced upon us, there is no alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end. War’s very object is victory-not prolonged indecision.

In war there is no substitute for victory.

Could I have but a line a century hence crediting a contribution to the advance of peace, I would yield every honor which has been accorded by war.

I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world! — I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world!

One cannot wage war under present conditions without the support of public opinion, which is tremendously molded by the press and other forms of propaganda.

I have known war as few men now living know it. It's very destructiveness on both friend and foe has rendered it useless as a means of settling international disputes. — I have known war as few men now living know it. It’s very destructiveness on both friend and foe has rendered it useless as a means of settling international disputes.

You don't win wars by dying for your country you win wars by making the other son of a bitch die for his. — You don’t win wars by dying for your country you win wars by making the other son of a bitch die for his.

6 Douglas MacArthur Quotes on Death (FADE AWAY)

They died hard, those savage men - like wounded wolves at bay. They were filthy, and they were lousy, and they stunk. And I loved them. — They died hard, those savage men – like wounded wolves at bay. They were filthy, and they were lousy, and they stunk. And I loved them.

In war, you win or lose, live or die - and the difference is just an eyelash. — In war, you win or lose, live or die – and the difference is just an eyelash.

I've looked that old scoundrel death in the eye many times but this time I think he has me on the ropes. — I’ve looked that old scoundrel death in the eye many times but this time I think he has me on the ropes.

Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.

Like the old soldier of the ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Goodbye. — Like the old soldier of the ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Goodbye.

In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield.

10 Inspirational Douglas MacArthur Quotes (I SHALL RETURN)

“I suppose, in a way, this has become part of my soul. It is a symbol of my life. Whatever I have done that really matters, I’ve done wearing it. When the time comes, it will be in this that I journey forth. What greater honor could come to an American, and a soldier?”
Douglas MacArthur

A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. — A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others.

Only those are fit to live who are not afraid to die.

No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation. — No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.

Even when opportunity knocks, a man still has to get up off his seat and open the door.

The world is in a constant conspiracy against the brave. It's the age-old struggle the roar of the crowd on the one side, and the voice of your conscience on the other. — The world is in a constant conspiracy against the brave. It’s the age-old struggle: the roar of the crowd on the one side, and the voice of your conscience on the other.

A better world shall emerge based on faith and understanding. — A better world shall emerge based on faith and understanding.

I had learned one of the bitter lessons of life never try to regain the past, the fire will have become ashes. — I had learned one of the bitter lessons of life: never try to regain the past, the fire will have become ashes.

The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself. — The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself.

Have a good plan, execute it violently, and do it today.

5 Douglas MacArthur Quotes on Government (CONSPIRACY)

“History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster.”
Douglas MacArthur

Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear - kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor - with the cry of grave national emergency. — Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear – kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor – with the cry of grave national emergency.

Always there has been some terrible evil at home or some monstrous foreign power that was going to gobble us up if we did not blindly rally behind it.

Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear. — Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear.

Rules are mostly made to be broken and are too often for the lazy to hide behind.

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Overcoming depression and suicidal thoughts, Jeremiah Say found solace in quotes. After filling countless pages with resonating words, he moved his collection online to save trees and inspire others. Thus, GraciousQuotes.com was born. Jeremiah firmly believes in the power of quotes to swiftly spark inspiration during hard times. His blog is dedicated to uplifting others through these shared wisdoms. Discover more about Gracious Quotes or get in touch with Jeremiah.