Marine Corps Quotes

We’ve been looking for the enemy for some time now. We’ve finally found him. We’re surrounded. That simplifies things.” – Col. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir

It is not the size of the Marine that counts, but the size of the fight in the Marine.” – GySgt. J.D. Pendry (ret.)

Marine Corps Recruit Training will not be easy. It’s not designed to be. The challenge you face will test you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Not all of you will complete the journey. Some of you will decide to give up. Those of you who don’t will emerge as the finest of America’s fighting men — Marines.” – Gen. Robert H. Barrow

Marines don’t surrender. That’s not in our ethos.” – Marine Capt. Brian R. Chontosh, who received the Navy Cross for his actions in Iraq

When it comes to combat leadership, the Marines have it. They know how to win battles.” – Col. Gerald H. Turley

Be willing to make decisions. That’s the most important quality in a good leader.” – Gen. George S. Patton Jr.

The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!” – Eleanor Roosevelt

You are part of the world’s most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.” – Gen. James Mattis

There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion.” – Gen. William Thornson

Make peace or die.” – Gen. James Mattis, directing his message to Iraqi tribal leaders

A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guaranty of peace.” – President Theodore Roosevelt

The Marines have landed, and the situation is well in hand.” – Richard Harding Davis

The more MARINES I have around the better I like it!” – Gen. Mark Clark

They told (us) to open up the Embassy, or “we’ll blow you away.” And then they looked up and saw the Marines on the roof with these really big guns, and they said in Somali, “Igaralli ahow,” which means “Excuse me, I didn’t mean it, my mistake.” – Karen Aquilar, in the U.S. Embassy; Mogadishu, Somalia, 1991

If I charge, follow me. If I retreat, kill me. If I die, revenge me.” – Latin phrase often used by Marines

We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on?” – Gen. John W. Vessey Jr., during the assault on Grenada, 1983

Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary.” – Gen. Alfred M. Gray

I come in peace, I didn’t bring artillery. But I am pleading with you with tears in my eyes: If you mess with me, I’ll kill you all.” – Marine Gen. James Mattis

The Marine Corps has no ambition beyond the framework of the nation in which its purposes are set.” – Gen. John A. Lejeune

Marines are trained to improvise, adapt and overcome. In short, to be the most ready when the nation is least ready.” – Gen. John “Black Jack” Pershing

Retreat, hell! We’re just advancing in a different direction.” – Gen. Oliver P. Smith, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir

My only answer as to why the Marines get the toughest jobs is because the average Leatherneck is a much better fighter. He has far more guts, courage, and better officers… These boys out here have a pride in the Marine Corps and will fight to the end no matter what the cost.” – 2nd Lt. Richard C. Kennard, Peleliu, World War II

In the Marine Corps, your buddy is not only your classmate or fellow officer, but he is also the Marine under your command. If you give him an order, you know it will be carried out.” – 1st Lt. Daniel Nicholas

If you can’t do it, give me a shout, and I will come and do it for you.” – Royal Marine motto

I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world!” – General Douglas MacArthur

The bended knee is not a tradition of our Corps.” – Gen. Alexander A. Vandergrift

Uncommon valor was a common virtue.” – Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, speaking about Marines at Iwo Jima

Freedom, democracy, and the American way of life have been defended and protected around the world by Marines. In fact, they have been the tip of the spear for over two centuries.” – President Ronald Reagan

The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines. Lord, how they could fight!” – MGen. Frank E. Lowe

The Japanese fought to win – it was a savage, brutal, inhumane, exhausting and dirty business. Our commanders knew that if we were to win and survive, we must be trained realistically for it whether we liked it or not.” – Eugene B. Sledge, “With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa”

You don’t hurt ’em if you don’t hit ’em.” – Capt. Gerry Coffee, Vietnam War veteran

Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.” – Ned Dolan

Pain is weakness leaving the body.” – Unknown

Marines are about the most peculiar breed of human beings I have ever witnessed. They treat their service as if it was some kind of cult, plastering their emblem on almost everything they own, making themselves up to look like insane fanatics with haircuts to ungentlemanly lengths, worshipping their Commandant almost as if he was a god, and making weird animal noises like a band of savages. They’ll fight like rabid dogs at the drop of a hat just for the sake of a little action, and are the cockiest SOBs I have ever known. Most have the foulest mouths and drink well beyond man’s normal limits, but their high spirits and sense of brotherhood set them apart and, generally speaking, of the United States Marines I’ve come in contact with, are the most professional soldiers and the finest men I have had the pleasure to meet.” – An Anonymous Canadian Citizen

I’d rather go down the river with seven studs than with a hundred shitheads.” – Col. Gerald H. Turley

The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle.” – Gen. John “Black Jack” Pershing

All right, they’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us… they can’t get away this time.” – Lt. Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller

You will kill. The enemy will kill. But you will win. In every clime and place where you fight, know it: You are a United States Marine.” – Col. John Ripley

A ship without Marines is like a garment without buttons.” – Adm. David D. Porter

Marines have a great attitude. They will sleep anywhere, eat anything, and do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission.” – Gen. James Mattis

Never ask the Marines where they buried their dead.” – Unknown

My business is killing.” – Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock II, USMC

Old breed? New breed? There’s not a damn bit of difference so long as it’s the Marine breed.” – Lt. Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller

Every morning you get up, and you’re alive, put your feet on the ground, and get after it.” – Marine R. Lee Ermey

Do not attack the First Marine Division. Leave the yellowlegs alone. Strike the American Army.” – Orders given to Communist troops in the Korean War, shortly before the Marines broke out of the Chosin Reservoir

Courage is endurance for one moment more.” – Unknown

USMC: The spineless need not apply. ~Cpl. Beddoe”

The Marine Corps does two things: We make Marines, and we win battles.” – Gen. Charles C. Krulak

I can’t say enough about the two Marine divisions. If I use words like ‘brilliant,’ it would really be an under-description of the absolutely superb job they did in breaching the so-called ‘impenetrable barrier.’ It was a classic- absolutely classic- military breaching of a very very tough minefield, barbed wire, fire trenches-type barrier.” – General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Central Command, speaking of the Marines’ role in the Gulf War

Marines know how to use their bayonets. Army bayonets may as well be paper-weights.” – Navy Times

The Marines are the first to fight because they love it.” – RAdm. Douglas MacArthur

Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean. They’re aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They’ve got really short hair and they always go for the throat.” – RAdm. “Jay” R. Stark

The Marine Corps was formed for combat. If you don’t like combat, you might want to consider another service.” – Gen. Ray Davis

I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm’s way.” – John Paul Jones

I am convinced that there is no smarter, handier, or more adaptable body of troops in the world.” – Prime Minister Winston Churchill

If you can’t find a way, make a way.” – Marine saying

Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don’t have that problem.” – Ronald Reagan

The Marine Corps has just been called by the New York Times, ‘The elite of this country.’ I think it is the elite of the world.” – Admiral William Halsey Jr.

The only easy day was yesterday.” – Navy SEALs motto, often adopted by Marines

The Marines have been using the same tactics that win battles since men have fought with weapons. Why change? What works, works.” – Lt. Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller

Marines don’t know how to spell the word defeat.” – Gen. James “Mad Dog” Mattis

I don’t lose any sleep at night over the potential for failure. I cannot even spell the word.” – Gen. James Mattis

For over 221 years our Corps has done two things for this great Nation. We make Marines, and we win battles.” – Gen. James Amos

Once a Marine, always a Marine.” – Various

You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth – and the amusing thing about it is that they are.” – Father Kevin Keaney, 1st Marine Division Chaplain, Korean War

The Marine Corps is a fraternity. We have guys of all races, colors, religions. We are all colors of the country.” – Marine Eddie Ryan

Marines die. That’s what we’re here for. But the Marine Corps lives forever. And that means YOU live forever.” – The Commandant’s Own

Gone to Florida to fight the Indians. Will be back when the war is over.” – Commandant Archibald Henderson’s note in 1836, explaining his absence from his duties

A Marine is a Marine. I set that policy two weeks ago – there’s no such thing as a former Marine. You’re a Marine, just in a different uniform and you’re in a different phase of your life. But you’ll always be a Marine because you went to Parris Island, San Diego or the hills of Quantico. There’s no such thing as a former Marine.” – General James F. Amos

To observe a Marine is inspirational; to be a Marine is exceptional.” – GySgt. Jason B. Cervantes

SEMPER FI!