There is only one 'retirement plan' for terrorists.
Jim MattisRead
Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Think critically before taking action, especially in serious situations.
This quote emphasizes the importance of thoughtful consideration and strategy before resorting to force or aggression. Jim Mattis highlights that true leadership involves using one's intellect to assess situations comprehensively to make informed decisions rather than impulsively acting on instinct or emotion.
Themes
Critical ThinkingLeadershipStrategyDecision MakingWar
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting about a potential project, you might say, 'Remember, engage your brain before you engage your weapon' to encourage thoughtful discussion.
More from Jim Mattis
All quotes βThere are hunters, and there are victims. By your discipline, cunning, obedience, and alertness, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.
Jim MattisRead
Now from a distance, I look back on what the Corps taught me: to think like men of action, and to act like men of thought!
Jim MattisRead
I believe that many of my young guys lived because I didn't waste their lives because I didn't have the vision in my mind of how to destroy the enemy at least cost to our guys and to the innocents on the battlefields.
Jim MattisRead
For whatever trauma came with service in tough circumstances, we should take what we learned - take our post-traumatic growth - and, like past generations coming home, bring our sharpened strengths to bear, bring our attitude of gratitude to bear.
Jim MattisRead
Policy makers who have never served in the military continue to use the military to lead social change in this country.
Jim MattisRead
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