1
Fear was the terrible secret of the battlefiled and could afflict the brave as well as the timid. Worse it was contagious, and could destroy a unit before a battle even began. Because of that, commanders were first and foremost in the fear suppression business.David Halberstam
2
Because history became his (Keenan's) genuine passion, he tended to see the world in terms of deep historical forces that, in his mind, formed a nation's character in ways almost beyond the consciousness of the men who momentarily governed it, as if these historical impulses were more a part of them than they knew.David Halberstam
3
The truth posed a great dilemma for a man who always had to be right, and yet, for all his grandeur, was often wrong.David Halberstam
4
The author describes megalomania as seen in Chairman Mao by saying that what he was familiar with, he was really familiar with. This zeal moved the megalomaniac with a complete lack of appreciation for what he DID NOT know.David Halberstam
5
Sometimes the best virtue learned on the battlefield is modesty.David Halberstam
6
This was the mark of an uncommon soldier, someone whose courage away from the battlefield was the same as that on it.David Halberstam
7
If he (George Keenan)felt on occasion more than a little uncomfortable when being listened to, then he was truly unhappy when not being listened to.David Halberstam
8
What looked safe was not safe. What looked hard and unsafe was probably safer. Anyway, safe was somewhere else in the world.David Halberstam
9
Gen. Matthew Ridgeway "intended not to impose his will on his men, but to allow the men under him to find something in themselves that would make them more confident, more purposeful fighting men. It was their confidence in themselves that would make them fight well, he believed, not so much their belief in him. His job was to keep them to find that quality in themselves.David Halberstam
10
Peterson thought it an unusual friendship, one only the Army could forge.David Halberstam
11
Most commanders wanted as many good sources of information as possible. MacArthur was focused on limiting and controlling his sources of intelligence.David Halberstam