QuoteProject
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
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

True leadership involves responsibility for the welfare and training of those you lead.

Chesty Puller's quote emphasizes the profound sense of duty that comes with leadership in the Marine Corps, highlighting that a leader's role extends beyond mere authority to encompass the responsibility for preparing and supporting their subordinates. Failing to adequately train or support those under your command is considered a serious dereliction of duty, reflecting the core values of commitment and accountability that are paramount in military service.

Themes

LeadershipResponsibilityTrainingSupportMilitary

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be shared during a leadership seminar to inspire accountability.

More from Chesty Puller

Old breed? New breed? There's not a damn bit of difference so long as it's the Marine breed.
Chesty PullerRead
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 PullerRead

Similar quotes

That's a strong sign of a good coach, to let an assistant participate. It shows his confidence in the coach's ability not to have to dominate everything.
Jerry WestRead
As a manager the important thing is not what happens when you are there, but what happens when you are not there
Ken BlanchardRead
Reason and calm judgment, the qualities specially belonging to a leader.
TacitusRead
It was settled by the Constitution, the laws, and the whole practice of the government that the entire executive power is vested in the President of the United States.
Andrew JacksonRead
In this age, I don't care how tactically or operationally brilliant you are, if you cannot create harmony - even vicious harmony - on the battlefield based on trust across service lines, across coalition and national lines, and across civilian/military lines, you need to go home, because your leadership is obsolete. We have got to have officers who can create harmony across all those lines.
James MattisRead
When management owns stock, then rewarding the shareholders becomes a first priority, whereas when management simply collects a paycheck, then increasing salaries becomes a first priority.
Peter LynchRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.