Patton Quotes
Capt. Oskar Steiger: [inside the German bunker] Sir, the Americans have taken Palermo!
General Alfred Jodl: Damn!
Messenger: [after pulling up to Monty's command post] Sir, Patton's taken Palermo!
Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery: Damn!
General Alfred Jodl: Damn!
Messenger: [after pulling up to Monty's command post] Sir, Patton's taken Palermo!
Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery: Damn!
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Moroccan Minister: [Morroccan Minister speaking to Patton,in presenting award, immediately after placing medal around Patton's neck] The lions in their dens tremble at his approach.
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[about his pistol grips]
Patton: They're ivory. Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whorehouse would carry a pearl-handled pistol.
Patton: They're ivory. Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whorehouse would carry a pearl-handled pistol.
Movie: Patton
[last lines]
Patton: [voiceover] For over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of a triumph - a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.
Patton: [voiceover] For over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of a triumph - a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.
Movie: Patton
[Vice-Marshal Arthur Coningham and General Patton are discussing the lack of supporting air cover the British have been providing for American troops]
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham: I promise you one thing, General. You will see no more German planes. [Moments later two German planes fly by overhead and begin to attack the compound, part of the ceiling in the room the two are in collapses as they scramble to take cover underneath a table]
Patton: You were discussing, uh, air supremacy, Sir Arthur?
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham: I promise you one thing, General. You will see no more German planes. [Moments later two German planes fly by overhead and begin to attack the compound, part of the ceiling in the room the two are in collapses as they scramble to take cover underneath a table]
Patton: You were discussing, uh, air supremacy, Sir Arthur?
Movie: Patton
[ first lines ]
Patton : Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.
Patton : Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.
Movie: Patton
[ Visiting an ancient battlefield ]
Patton : The Carthaginians defending the city were attacked by three Roman legions. The Carthaginians were proud and brave but they couldn't hold. They were massacred. Arab women stripped them of their tunics and their swords and lances. The soldiers lay naked in the sun. Two thousand years ago. I was here.
Patton : The Carthaginians defending the city were attacked by three Roman legions. The Carthaginians were proud and brave but they couldn't hold. They were massacred. Arab women stripped them of their tunics and their swords and lances. The soldiers lay naked in the sun. Two thousand years ago. I was here.
Movie: Patton
[ Outmaneuvering Rommel ]
Patton : [ referring to Rommel's book, 'Infantry Attacks' or 'Infanterie greift an' ] Rommel... you magnificent bastard, *I read your book*!
Patton : [ referring to Rommel's book, 'Infantry Attacks' or 'Infanterie greift an' ] Rommel... you magnificent bastard, *I read your book*!
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Patton : Now there's another thing I want you to remember. I don't want to get any messages saying that "we are holding our position." We're not holding anything. Let the Hun do that. We are advancing constantly and we're not interested in holding onto anything except the enemy. We're going to hold onto him by the nose and we're going to kick him in the ass. We're going to kick the hell out of him all the time and we're going to go through him like crap through a goose!
Movie: Patton
Patton : Thirty years from now, when you're sitting around your fireside with your grandson on your knee and he asks you, "What did you do in the great World War II," you won't have to say, "Well... I shoveled shit in Louisiana."
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Field Marshal Erwin Rommel : What is this activity near Coulances?
General Alfred Jodl : Enemy armored forces driving through our defenses at Lessay. [ reading telegram ]
General Alfred Jodl : "American tanks moving rapidly, slicing through to the rear areas."
Capt. Oskar Steiger : This sounds like Patton, Field Marshall.
General Alfred Jodl : Patton is in England.
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel : Do we know this?
General Alfred Jodl : The landing in Normandy is merely a diversionary maneuver. The real invasion will come at Calais and Patton will lead it. The Fuehrer says that the Fifteenth Army is not to be moved to Normandy.
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel : Those men are sitting on the beach at Calais throwing rocks at each other while our men are being slaughtered in Normandy.
General Alfred Jodl : [ firmly ] The Fifteenth Army is waiting for Patton at Calais and he will land there.
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel : You seem perfectly willing to accept this nonsense, Jodl. Why?
General Alfred Jodl : [ chuckles ] Because I am not prepared to dispute the Fuehrer.
General Alfred Jodl : Enemy armored forces driving through our defenses at Lessay. [ reading telegram ]
General Alfred Jodl : "American tanks moving rapidly, slicing through to the rear areas."
Capt. Oskar Steiger : This sounds like Patton, Field Marshall.
General Alfred Jodl : Patton is in England.
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel : Do we know this?
General Alfred Jodl : The landing in Normandy is merely a diversionary maneuver. The real invasion will come at Calais and Patton will lead it. The Fuehrer says that the Fifteenth Army is not to be moved to Normandy.
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel : Those men are sitting on the beach at Calais throwing rocks at each other while our men are being slaughtered in Normandy.
General Alfred Jodl : [ firmly ] The Fifteenth Army is waiting for Patton at Calais and he will land there.
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel : You seem perfectly willing to accept this nonsense, Jodl. Why?
General Alfred Jodl : [ chuckles ] Because I am not prepared to dispute the Fuehrer.
Movie: Patton
Patton : Men, all this stuff you've heard about America not wanting to fight, wanting to stay out of the war, is a lot of horse dung. Americans traditionally love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle. When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, big league ball players, the toughest boxers. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost, and will never lose a war... because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans.
Movie: Patton
American GI Cook : Up bright and early, General? Uh, breakfast?
Patton : Am I to understand that my officers have already finished eating?
American GI Cook : Uh, well, we're open from six to eight. Most of the men are just coming in now. [ Indicates two soldiers who enter the mess hall ]
Patton : Please inform these men that the mess hall is closed.
American GI Cook : But sir, it's only a quarter 'til eight.
Patton : From now on, you will open at six, and no man will be admitted after six-fifteen. Where are your leggings?
American GI Cook : Leggings? Oh hell, General sir, I'm a cook.
Patton : You're a soldier. Twenty dollar fine. [ two more soldiers enter the mess hall. Patton looks them over ]
Patton : Gentlemen, from this moment, any soldier without leggings, without a helmet, without a tie, any man with unshined shoes or a soiled uniform... is going to be skinned.
Patton : Am I to understand that my officers have already finished eating?
American GI Cook : Uh, well, we're open from six to eight. Most of the men are just coming in now. [ Indicates two soldiers who enter the mess hall ]
Patton : Please inform these men that the mess hall is closed.
American GI Cook : But sir, it's only a quarter 'til eight.
Patton : From now on, you will open at six, and no man will be admitted after six-fifteen. Where are your leggings?
American GI Cook : Leggings? Oh hell, General sir, I'm a cook.
Patton : You're a soldier. Twenty dollar fine. [ two more soldiers enter the mess hall. Patton looks them over ]
Patton : Gentlemen, from this moment, any soldier without leggings, without a helmet, without a tie, any man with unshined shoes or a soiled uniform... is going to be skinned.
Movie: Patton
Patton : Now, an army is a team - it lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team. This individuality stuff is a bunch of crap.
Movie: Patton
Patton : The Nazis are the enemy. Wade into them. Spill *their* blood. Shoot *them* in the belly.
Movie: Patton
[ about his pistol grips ]
Patton : They're ivory. Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whorehouse would carry a pearl-handled pistol.
Patton : They're ivory. Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whorehouse would carry a pearl-handled pistol.
Movie: Patton
Patton : We're gonna keep fighting. Is that CLEAR? We're gonna attack all night, we're gonna attack tomorrow morning. If we are not VICTORIOUS, let no man come back alive!
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Lt. Col. Charles R. Codman : You know General, sometimes the men don't know when you're acting.
Patton : It's not important for them to know. It's only important for me to know.
Patton : It's not important for them to know. It's only important for me to know.
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Patton : When you put your hand into a bunch of goo that a moment before was your best friend's face, you'll know what to do.
Movie: Patton
Clergyman : I was interested to see a Bible by your bed. You actually find time to read it?
Patton : I sure do. Every goddamn day.
Patton : I sure do. Every goddamn day.
Movie: Patton
Patton : There's only one proper way for a professional soldier to die: the last bullet of the last battle of the last war.
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[ last lines ]
Patton : [ voiceover ] For over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of a triumph - a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.
Patton : [ voiceover ] For over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of a triumph - a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.
Movie: Patton
General Omar N. Bradley : There's one big difference between you and me, George. I do this job because I've been trained to do it. You do it because you LOVE it.
Movie: Patton
Patton : I've always felt that I was destined for some great achievement, what I don't know.
Sgt. William Meeks : Yes, sir.
Patton : The last great opportunity of a lifetime - an entire world at war, and I'm left out of it? God will not permit this to happen! I will be allowed to fulfill my destiny! His will be done.
Sgt. William Meeks : Yes, sir.
Patton : The last great opportunity of a lifetime - an entire world at war, and I'm left out of it? God will not permit this to happen! I will be allowed to fulfill my destiny! His will be done.
Movie: Patton