Sunday, May 3, 2009

PATTON ON DISCIPLINE

General George S. Patton and his thoughts on discipline:

"It is the common experience of mankind that in moments of great excitement the conscious mental processes of the brain no longer operate. All actions are subconscious, the result of habits."

"The purpose of discipline and training are first to insure obedience and orderly movement. Second, to produce synthetic courage. Third, to provide methods of combat. Fourth, to prevent or delay the breakdown of the first three due to the excitement of the battle."

"All human beings have an innate resistance to obedience. Discipline removes this resistance and, by constant repetition, makes obedience habitual and subconscious."

"Unless you do your best, the day will come when, tired and hungry, you will halt just short of the goal you were ordered to reach."

"Battle is an orgy of disorder. The sudden change from accustomed order to utter disorder, to chaos, but emphasizes the folly of schooling to precision and obedience where only fierceness and habituated disorder are useful."

"Discipline, which is but mutual trust and confidence, is the key to all success in peace or war."

"There is only one kind of discipline: perfect discipline."

"Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of battle."

"Personally, I am of the opinion that older men of experience, who have smelled the powder and have been wounded, are of more value than mere youthful exuberance, which has not yet been disciplined."

"Brave, undisciplined men have no chance against the discipline and valor of other men."