David M. Shoup

“We are the most powerful nation in the world. We can beat anyone... But that doesn't mean we ought to.”

“There's only two things we do better than anyone else: we can kill people and we can break things. If you need somebody killed or something broken, you call us. But don't expect us to hand out rations.”

“I think we should be most careful about putting our military men in a position where they are asked to do a job that is not in consonance with our national policy.”

“I believe that if we had and would keep our dirty, bloody, dollar-crooked fingers out of the business of these nations so full of depressed, exploited people, they will arrive at a solution of their own.”

“You want to be a General, you're going to have to be able to do one thing. You're going to have to be able to make a decision.”

“Casualties many; percentage of dead not known; combat efficiency: we are winning.”

“To be successful in a profession, a man must have a passion for it and, if he has that, he is sure to succeed.”

“The galleries are whispering that you're anointed... You're not anointed. You're appointed. You're a hired hand. And don't you ever forget it.”

“The real target of the officer who is going to be a good leader is to have his men love him, but respect him.”

“You can't just tell a man 'I have confidence in you'; you have to show it.”