Be the hunter, not the hunted: Never allow your unit to be caught with its guard down.
James MattisRead
The most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears.
Interpretation
The greatest battles are fought in our minds, emphasizing mental strength over physical prowess.
This quote by James Mattis highlights the importance of mental fortitude and strategic thinking in overcoming challenges, particularly in high-pressure situations like a battlefield. It suggests that while physical skill is valuable, success is often determined by one's mindset, decision-making, and mental resilience.
In practice
During a motivational talk, to inspire soldiers before deployment.
Be the hunter, not the hunted: Never allow your unit to be caught with its guard down.
I would happily storm hell in the company of these troops ... how strongly they have demonstrated to the world that free men and women can fight like the dickens.
For the mission's sake, our country's sake, and the sake of the men who carried the Division's colors in the past battles - who fought for life and never lost their nerve - carry out your mission and keep your honor clean. Demonstrate to the world there is "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy" than a U.S. Marine.
You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the brutal facts. If they start living in a dream world, it's going to be bad.
We've backed off in good faith to try and give you a chance to straighten this problem out. But I am going to beg with you for a minute. I'm going to plead with you, do not cross us. Because if you do, the survivors will write about what we do here for 10,000 years.
Demonstrate to the world there is "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy" than a U.S. Marine.
We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
Only let the North exert as much moral influence over the South, as the South has exerted demoralizing influence over the North, and slavery would die amid the flame of Christian remonstrance, and faithful rebuke, and holy indignation
I feel like young girls are told, I donβt know, that they have to be this kind of princess and fragile. Itβs bullshit. I identify much more with being a warrior, a fighter. If I was going to be a princess Iβd be a warrior princess definitely.
The fact that the adult American Negro female emerges a formidable character is often met with amazement, distaste and even belligerance. It is seldom accepted as an inevitable outcome of the struggle won by survivors, and deserves respect if not enthusiastic acceptance.
Zoe readied her arrows. Grover lifted his pipes. Thalia raised her shield and I noticed a tear running down her cheek. Suddenly it occurred to me: this had happened to her before.She had been cornered on Half- Blood Hill. She'd willingly given her life for her friends. But this time she couldn't save us.
Though violence is not lawful, when it is offered in self-defense or for the defense of the defenseless, it is an act of bravery far better than cowardly submission. The latter befits neither man nor woman. Under violence, there are many stages and varieties of bravery. Every man must judge this for himself. No other person can or has the right.
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