Chesty Puller Quotes

What the American people want to do is fight a war without getting hurt. You can’t do that any more than you can get into a barroom fight without getting hurt… Unless the American people are willing to send their sons out to fight an aggressor, there just isn’t going to be any United States.

– Chesty Puller

In the Confederate Army, an officer was judged by stark courage alone, and this made it possible for the Confederacy to live four years.

– Chesty Puller

My definition, the definition that I’ve always believed in, is that esprit de corps means love for one’s own military legion – in my case, the United States Marine Corps. It means more than self-preservation, religion, or patriotism. I’ve also learned that this loyalty to one’s corps travels both ways: up and down.

– Chesty Puller

In the Marine Corps, your buddy is not only your classmate or fellow officer, but he is also the Marine under your command. If you don’t prepare yourself to properly train him, lead him, and support him on the battlefield, then you’re going to let him down. That is unforgivable in the Marine Corps.

– Chesty Puller

Pain is weakness leaving the body.

– Chesty Puller

If we are going to win the next war, in my opinion, 50 percent of the time of training should be allotted to night training.

– Chesty Puller

My definition, a definition in the drill books from the time that General Von Steuben wrote the regulations for General George Washington, the definition of the object of military training is success in battle… It wouldn’t be any sense to have a military organization on the backs of the American taxpayers with any other definition.

– Chesty Puller

If you want to get the most out of your men, give them a break! Don’t make them work completely in the dark. If you do, they won’t do a bit more than they have to. But if they comprehend, they’ll work like mad.

– Chesty Puller

I’ve always believed that no officer’s life, regardless of rank, is of such great value to his country that he should seek safety in the rear… Officers should be forward with their men at the point of impact.

– Chesty Puller

Paperwork will ruin any military force.

– Chesty Puller

You don’t hurt ’em if you don’t hit ’em.

– Chesty Puller