33 Quotes & Sayings By Douglas Macarthur

Douglas MacArthur was a five-star general in the United States Army and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in the post-World War II occupation of Japan. He was one of only eight men ever to rise to the rank of General of the Armies, and one of only three men to become General of the Army in the 20th century. A polarizing figure in American history, he is often considered one of America's greatest generals and military leaders.

Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously...
1
Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons. Douglas MacArthur
2
This does not mean that you are warmongers. On the contrary, the soldier above all other people prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. But always in our ears ring the ominous words of Plato, that wisest of all philosophers: "Only the dead have seen the end of war. Douglas MacArthur
Give me ten thousand Filipino soldiers and I will conquer...
3
Give me ten thousand Filipino soldiers and I will conquer the world. Douglas MacArthur
4
The history of the failure of war can almost be summed up in two words: too late. Douglas MacArthur
5
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. Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail. Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past. And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain. Douglas MacArthur
6
I realize that advice is worth what it costs--that is, nothing. Douglas MacArthur
7
It is fatal to enter an war without the will to win it. Douglas MacArthur
8
I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any treat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within. Douglas MacArthur
9
You are remembered for the rules you break. Douglas MacArthur
10
Only those Americans who are willing to die for their country are fit to live. Douglas MacArthur
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In the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber so long as it receives messages of beauty hope cheer and courage so long are you young. Douglas MacArthur
12
In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield. Douglas MacArthur
13
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
14
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. Douglas MacArthur
15
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. Douglas MacArthur
16
In war, you win or lose, live or die - and the difference is just an eyelash. Douglas MacArthur
17
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. Douglas MacArthur
18
It is part of the general pattern of misguided policy that our country is now geared to an arms economy which was bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and nurtured upon an incessant propaganda of fear. Douglas MacArthur
19
Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul. Douglas MacArthur
20
I've looked that old scoundrel death in the eye many times but this time I think he has me on the ropes. Douglas MacArthur
21
The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself. Douglas MacArthur
22
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. Douglas MacArthur
23
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. Douglas MacArthur
24
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. Douglas MacArthur
25
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. Douglas MacArthur
26
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. Douglas MacArthur
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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. Douglas MacArthur
28
Americans never quit. Douglas MacArthur
29
A better world shall emerge based on faith and understanding. Douglas MacArthur
30
Life is a lively process of becoming. Douglas MacArthur
31
There is no substitute for victory. Douglas MacArthur
32
Duty, Honor, Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. Douglas MacArthur