George C. Marshall

"There is a tendency for things to go wrong in the military when a man becomes too enamored with himself."

"Character is the most important thing in life. Everything else is secondary."

"In peace, prepare for war. In war, prepare for peace."

"I have little patience with people who take the Constitution out to the backyard and shoot it full of holes, then wonder why it don't work anymore."

"The use of military force must be the instrument of last resort, not first impulse."

"Modesty is the price of greatness."

"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."

"Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning."

"The only thing a university ought to say to the government is 'get out of the way.'"

"If man does find the solution for world peace, it will be the most revolutionary reversal of his record we have ever known."

"To be a leader of men one must be able to listen to men."

"The world does not stand still and neither should we."

"Democracy requires the participation of every citizen to maintain its strength and vitality."

"Once the destruction begins, there's no way to control it and no way to foresee where it will end."

"A true leader must be willing to make the hard decisions that others cannot."

"The foundation of democratic behavior is the assumption of human dignity."

"One cannot be deeply responsive to the world without being saddened very often."

"The great tradition of public service requires men and women of the highest moral character."

"In the military, you learn that nothing is ever as simple as it seems."

"The ultimate responsibility is to oneself and to one's judgment."

"I have always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come."

"A man of conviction is difficult to lead because he is difficult to move without moving him."

"The strength of a nation lies not in its military might but in the character of its people."

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

"Never underestimate the power of patience in achieving your objectives."

"The difference between a good soldier and a great general is the ability to see what others cannot."

"We must never forget that our greatest strength lies in our unity of purpose."

"The pursuit of peace requires as much dedication and resources as the pursuit of war."

"A man who is not willing to admit his mistakes will never grow beyond them."

"In times of crisis, the true measure of a person's character emerges."