George C. Marshall Professions : Former United States Secretary of Defense Born : December 31, 1880 Died : October 16, 1959 Browse All Authors Top 50 quotes by George C. Marshall I think one difficulty is that the problem is one of such enormous complexity that the very mass of facts presented to the public by press and radio make it exceedingly difficult for the man in the street to reach a clear appraisement of the situation. It is virtually impossible at this distance to grasp at all the real significance of the situation. George C. Marshall distance real men I can't expect loyalty from the army if I do not give it. George C. Marshall army loyalty giving Don't fight the problem, decide it. George C. Marshall campaigns political fighting The one great element in continuing the success of an offensive is maintaining the momentum. George C. Marshall momentum maintaining elements The soldier's heart, the soldier's spirit, the soldier's soul, are everything. George C. Marshall soul soldier heart The choice is between acting with energy or losing by default. George C. Marshall acting choices energy Morale is the state of mind. It is steadfastness and courage and hope. It is confidence and zeal and loyalty. It is élan, esprit de corps and determination. George C. Marshall persistence loyalty determination As to my political faith- I have never voted. My father was a Democrat, my mother a Republican, and I am an Episcopalian. George C. Marshall political mother father A political problem thought of in military terms eventually becomes a military problem. George C. Marshall political problem military I am certain that a solution of the general problem of peace must rest on broad and basic understanding on the part of its peoples. Great single endeavors like a League of Nations, a United Nations, and undertakings of that character, are of great importance and in fact absolutely necessary, but they must be treated as steps toward the desired end. George C. Marshall understanding league character An essential part of any successful action on the part of the United States is an understanding on the part of the people of America of the character of the problem and the remedies to be applied. ... It is virtually impossible at this distance merely by reading, or listening, or even seeing photographs or motion pictures, to grasp at all the real significance of the situation. And yet the whole world of the future hangs on a proper judgment. George C. Marshall distance real military The gallantry and aggressive fighting spirit of the Russian soldiers command the American army's admiration. George C. Marshall army fighting war There has been considerable comment over the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a soldier. I am afraid this does not seem as remarkable to me as it quite evidently appears to others. I know a great deal of the horrors and tragedies of war. ... The cost of war in human lives is constantly spread before me, written neatly in many ledgers whose columns are gravestones. I am deeply moved to find some means or method of avoiding another calamity of war. George C. Marshall military war mean You know, I know, all of us know that the time factor is the vital consideration - and vital is the correct meaning of the term - of our national defense program; that we must never be caught in the same situation we found ourselves in 1917. George C. Marshall consideration defense military Go right straight down the road, to do what is best, and to do it frankly and without evasion. George C. Marshall evasion down-the-road The United States should do whatever it is able to do to assist in the return of normal economic health in the world, without which there can be no political stability and no assured peace. George C. Marshall united-states political war The great lesson to be learned in the battered towns of England and the ruined cities of Germany is that the best way to win a war is to prevent it from occurring. George C. Marshall cities winning war No compromise is possible and the victory of the democracies can only be complete with the utter defeat of the war machines of Germany and Japan. George C. Marshall japan victory war I was very careful to send Mr. Roosevelt every few days a statement of our casualties. I tried to keep before him all the time the casualty results because you get hardened to these things and you have to be very careful to keep them always in the forefront of your mind. George C. Marshall casualties results mind The patient is sinking while the doctors deliberate. George C. Marshall doctors patient war Similar Authors Clark Clifford former-united-states-secretary-of-defense Charles Erwin Wilson former-united-states-secretary-of-defense Frank Carlucci former-united-states-secretary-of-defense Louis A. Johnson former-united-states-secretary-of-defense Les Aspin former-united-states-secretary-of-defense Neil H. McElroy former-united-states-secretary-of-defense All Authors