Bernard Montgomery

"The greatest victories come to those who understand that patience and preparation are weapons as powerful as any gun."

"I learned that the most important words a commander can speak are: 'I was wrong.' This builds trust like nothing else."

"In command, I found that listening to the men under you often reveals wisdom that your own rank blinds you to."

"A soldier fights not for glory or medals, but for his comrades and for the cause his commander represents."

"The battlefield is the ultimate teacher. It separates the competent from the incompetent with brutal clarity."

"I have always maintained that a well-led soldier can accomplish what ten poorly-led soldiers cannot."

"Victory is not the end of war; it is the beginning of the harder work of peace."

"A commander's greatest responsibility is to send men into danger with the knowledge that their sacrifice serves a greater good."

"I learned that the appearance of confidence is not enough. The men can sense false confidence and will not follow it."

"In all military matters, I have found that the simple solution is usually the correct one."

"A soldier needs three things: confidence in his leader, confidence in his comrades, and understanding of his mission."

"The commander who surrounds himself with yes-men will find himself surrounded by his enemies."

"I have never regretted being strict with my officers, because that strictness saved the lives of thousands of soldiers."

"In war, as in life, the man who can control his emotions and think clearly will prevail over the emotional man."

"A soldier's greatest strength is his belief that he is serving something greater than himself."

"The most important order a commander can give is not about tactics or strategy, but about why the men are fighting."

"I learned that a commander is only as good as the officers below him. Therefore, selecting and training them is paramount."

"A man who has never made a difficult decision has never led anything of importance."

"In all my decisions, I asked: Will this decision be vindicated by history? If not, I questioned it."

"The soldier who trusts his leader will follow him anywhere. Therefore, that trust must be earned and never betrayed."

"I have always believed that the measure of a commander is not his victories, but how few of his men he loses in achieving them."

"A military organization, like any other, rises or falls on the character of its leadership."

"The greatest lesson I learned is that fear and courage are not opposites. Courage is fear transformed into action."

"In command, I found that the most important communication is often non-verbal—the presence and example of the leader."

"A soldier will follow you into hell if he believes you will lead him out again."

"I have learned that the best-laid plans often fail, but a commander with a clear mind and strong character never does."

"The commander who understands that men have limits and respects those limits will get more from them than one who doesn't."

"In warfare and in life, I have found that the obstacle is often the opportunity in disguise."

"A military unit reflects the character of its commander as clearly as water reflects the face above it."

"I have always held that the secret to victory is making your enemy respond to your plan rather than you responding to his."