Battle Quotes | Beyond Motive

top of page

Battle Quotes

"The fact is that as soon as they reach Baghdad gates, we will besiege them and slaughter them. Until now they have refused to do battle with us. They are just going places. One can describe them as a boa: when it feels threatened, it runs to somewhere else."

"The fact is that as soon as they reach Baghdad gates, we will besiege them and slaughter them. Until now they have refused to do battle with us. They are just going places. One can describe them as a boa: when it feels threatened, it runs to somewhere else."

Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, Iraqi Public Servant

Battle, Fact, Now, Will

95

"There is no glory in battle worth the blood it costs."

"There is no glory in battle worth the blood it costs."

Dwight D. Eisenhower, American President

Battle, Blood, Glory, Worth

88

"Blair... is accusing us of executing British soldiers. We want to tell him that we have not executed anybody. They are either killed in battle, most of them get killed because they are cowards anyway, the rest they just get captured."

"Blair... is accusing us of executing British soldiers. We want to tell him that we have not executed anybody. They are either killed in battle, most of them get killed because they are cowards anyway, the rest they just get captured."

Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, Iraqi Public Servant

Battle, Cowards, Rest, Soldiers

77

"We will win the battle for Africa, which is in effect a battle for Humanity."

"We will win the battle for Africa, which is in effect a battle for Humanity."

Abdoulaye Wade, Senegalese Statesman

Battle, Effect, Humanity, Will

71

"No one will ever win the battle of the sexes; there's too much fraternizing with the enemy."

"No one will ever win the battle of the sexes; there's too much fraternizing with the enemy."

Henry A. Kissinger, American Statesman

Battle, Enemy, Sexes, Will

70

"A battle won is a battle which we will not acknowledge to be lost."

"A battle won is a battle which we will not acknowledge to be lost."

Ferdinand Foch, French Soldier

68

"Our main battle has always been against Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers."

"Our main battle has always been against Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers."

Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian Activist

Battle, Soldiers

66

"Let us go forward in this battle fortified by conviction that those who labour in the service of a great and good cause will never fail."

"Let us go forward in this battle fortified by conviction that those who labour in the service of a great and good cause will never fail."

Owen Arthur, Barbadian Statesman

Battle, Cause, Conviction, Service

62

"The anguish of the neurotic individual is the same as that of the saint. The neurotic, the saint are engaged in the same battle. Their blood flows from similar wounds. But the first one gasps and the other one gives."

"The anguish of the neurotic individual is the same as that of the saint. The neurotic, the saint are engaged in the same battle. Their blood flows from similar wounds. But the first one gasps and the other one gives."

Georges Bataille, French Writer

Battle, Blood, First, Wounds

50

"We've always had a pretty competitive and pretty ferocious battle with British Airways... It's lasted now about 14 years, and we're very pleased to have survived it."

"We've always had a pretty competitive and pretty ferocious battle with British Airways... It's lasted now about 14 years, and we're very pleased to have survived it."

Richard Branson, British Businessman

Battle, Now, Pretty, Years

47

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

Philo, Egyptian Philosopher

Battle, Fighting

47

"But I deal with this meditating and by understanding I've been put on the planet to serve humanity. I have to remind myself to live simply and not to overindulge, which is a constant battle in a material world."

"But I deal with this meditating and by understanding I've been put on the planet to serve humanity. I have to remind myself to live simply and not to overindulge, which is a constant battle in a material world."

Sandra Cisneros, American Author

Battle, Humanity, Understanding, World

39

"Battle is an orgy of disorder."

"Battle is an orgy of disorder."

George S. Patton, American Soldier

Battle, Disorder

38

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."

e. e. cummings, American Poet

Battle, Being, Day, Fight

37

"Remember that a painting - before it is a battle horse, a nude model, or some anecdote - is essentially a flat surface covered with colours assembled in a certain order."

"Remember that a painting - before it is a battle horse, a nude model, or some anecdote - is essentially a flat surface covered with colours assembled in a certain order."

Maurice Denis, French Artist

Battle, Order, Painting

37

"Every pioneer and musician who could carry a musket went into the ranks. Even the sick and foot-sore, who could not keep up in the march, came up as soon as they could find their regiments, and took their places in line of battle, while it was battle, indeed."

"Every pioneer and musician who could carry a musket went into the ranks. Even the sick and foot-sore, who could not keep up in the march, came up as soon as they could find their regiments, and took their places in line of battle, while it was battle, indeed."

Joshua Chamberlain, American Soldier

34

"Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country."

"Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country."

Marquis de Lafayette, French Revolutionary

Battle, Country, Humanity, Liberty

33

"As full lines of battle could not be handled through the thick wood, I ordered the advance of the six brigades by heavy skirmish lines, to be followed by stronger supporting lines."

"As full lines of battle could not be handled through the thick wood, I ordered the advance of the six brigades by heavy skirmish lines, to be followed by stronger supporting lines."

James Longstreet, American Soldier

33

"In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable."

"In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable."

Dwight D. Eisenhower, American President

Battle, Planning

32

"The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton."

"The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton."

Arthur Wellesley, English Soldier

32

"Our first gig was a battle of the bands. We did 45 minutes of comedy and never played a note - and we won!"

"Our first gig was a battle of the bands. We did 45 minutes of comedy and never played a note - and we won!"

Cheech Marin, American Comedian

Battle, Comedy, First

31

"Most recently my battle has been against AIDS and the discrimination surrounding it."

"Most recently my battle has been against AIDS and the discrimination surrounding it."

Ryan White, American Celebrity

Battle, Discrimination

31

"As the knight of the quill never ventured into the fight, and only snuffed the battle afar, he knew nothing accurately of battles, but managed to pick up a few real or supposed incidents from the wounded and from stragglers."

"As the knight of the quill never ventured into the fight, and only snuffed the battle afar, he knew nothing accurately of battles, but managed to pick up a few real or supposed incidents from the wounded and from stragglers."

Daniel H. Hill, American Soldier

Battle, Fight, Knight, Nothing

30

"Whither depart the souls of the brave that die in the battle, Die in the lost, lost fight, for the cause that perishes with them?"

"Whither depart the souls of the brave that die in the battle, Die in the lost, lost fight, for the cause that perishes with them?"

Arthur Hugh Clough, English Poet

Battle, Cause, Fight

30

"There was a president imposed by Syria. Our battle... is to have a Lebanese president that we elect."

"There was a president imposed by Syria. Our battle... is to have a Lebanese president that we elect."

Walid Jumblatt, Lebanese Politician

Battle, President

30

"There's the tradition in jazz of having the Battle of the Bands, and you do not want to get your head cut when you're playing."

"There's the tradition in jazz of having the Battle of the Bands, and you do not want to get your head cut when you're playing."

Wynton Marsalis, American Musician

Battle, Jazz, Tradition, Want

30

"I do not know if she was virtuous, but she was ugly, and with a woman that is half the battle."

"I do not know if she was virtuous, but she was ugly, and with a woman that is half the battle."

Heinrich Heine, German Poet

Battle, Ugly, Woman

29

"He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again."

"He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Battle, Day, Fight, May

29

"No plan of battle ever survives contact with the enemy."

"No plan of battle ever survives contact with the enemy."

Helmuth von Moltke, German General

29

"It is against this concept of the sovereign state, a state isolated by protectionism and militarism, that internationalism must now engage in decisive battle."

"It is against this concept of the sovereign state, a state isolated by protectionism and militarism, that internationalism must now engage in decisive battle."

Christian Lous Lange, Norwegian Politician

Battle, Now, State

29

"The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet."

"The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet."

Damon Runyon, American Journalist

29

"The great Chinese classics have always said that it's better not to fight; that the clever man achieves his ends without violence; that a battle delayed is better than a battle fought."

"The great Chinese classics have always said that it's better not to fight; that the clever man achieves his ends without violence; that a battle delayed is better than a battle fought."

John Keegan, English Historian

Battle, Fight, Man, Violence

28

"June 2005 is the five year anniversary of the debut of Battle Pope."

"June 2005 is the five year anniversary of the debut of Battle Pope."

Robert Kirkman, American Writer

28

"It may be that the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong - but that is the way to bet."

"It may be that the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong - but that is the way to bet."

Cybill Shepherd, American Actress

Battle, May, Race, Cybill Sheperd

28

"Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained."

"Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained."

Duke of Wellington, British Royalty

28

"If the Union is once severed, the line of separation will grow wider and wider, and the controversies which are now debated and settled in the halls of legislation will then be tried in fields of battle and determined by the sword."

"If the Union is once severed, the line of separation will grow wider and wider, and the controversies which are now debated and settled in the halls of legislation will then be tried in fields of battle and determined by the sword."

Andrew Jackson, American President

Battle, Legislation, Now, Separation

28

"The surprise is half the battle. Many things are half the battle, losing is half the battle. Let's think about what's the whole battle."

"The surprise is half the battle. Many things are half the battle, losing is half the battle. Let's think about what's the whole battle."

David Mamet, American Dramatist

27

"It is the old battle, between those who use a toothbrush and those who don't."

"It is the old battle, between those who use a toothbrush and those who don't."

Lady Gregory, Irish Dramatist

27

"There is no French town in which the wounds inflicted on the battle-field are not bleeding."

"There is no French town in which the wounds inflicted on the battle-field are not bleeding."

Georges Duhamel, French Novelist

27

"No battle plan survives contact with the enemy."

"No battle plan survives contact with the enemy."

Colin Powell, American Statesman

26

"I honestly believe that TV generally is obsessed with the ratings battle to the point of cutting its own throat."

"I honestly believe that TV generally is obsessed with the ratings battle to the point of cutting its own throat."

Jonathan Dimbleby, British Writer

26

"You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it."

"You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it."

Margaret Thatcher, English Leader

Battle, Fight, May

26

"All the arts are predominantly national, and therefore the Australian Film Commission should be funding us. The battle gets more and more vicious each year."

"All the arts are predominantly national, and therefore the Australian Film Commission should be funding us. The battle gets more and more vicious each year."

Ann Macbeth, English Author

25

"If the Constitution is worth anything, if the Declaration of Independence is worth anything, if the boys who died on the field of battle did not die in vain, fair employment practices are correct and necessary."

"If the Constitution is worth anything, if the Declaration of Independence is worth anything, if the boys who died on the field of battle did not die in vain, fair employment practices are correct and necessary."

Dennis Chavez, American Politician

Battle, Boys, Constitution, Independence

25

"I had a very public battle with anorexia."

"I had a very public battle with anorexia."

Tracey Gold, American Actress

25

"I'm sad to see the passing of the great drug warriors. I certainly did my part in that battle and I don't regret any of it."

"I'm sad to see the passing of the great drug warriors. I certainly did my part in that battle and I don't regret any of it."

Marc Maron, American Entertainer

25

"It's a never ending battle of making your cars better and also trying to be better yourself."

"It's a never ending battle of making your cars better and also trying to be better yourself."

Dale Earnhardt, American Celebrity

Battle, Ending, Trying

25

"My first book was rejected nine times. It turned out to be a best seller, Battle Cry? in 1953."

"My first book was rejected nine times. It turned out to be a best seller, Battle Cry? in 1953."

Leon Uris, American Writer

24

"Since woman's rights have come up a young woman is better able to fight her own battle."

"Since woman's rights have come up a young woman is better able to fight her own battle."

Anthony Trollope, English Author

Battle, Fight, Rights, Woman

23

"Battle, n., A method of untying with the teeth a political knot that would not yield to the tongue."

"Battle, n., A method of untying with the teeth a political knot that would not yield to the tongue."

Ambrose Bierce, American Journalist

Battle, Tongue, Yield

23

bottom of page