William Halsey Quotations

The Marine Corps has just been called by the New York Times, 'The elite of this country.' I think it is the elite of the world.

I never trust a fighting man who doesn't smoke or drink.

There are no extraordinary men... just extraordinary circumstances that ordinary men are forced to deal with.

If you want to go anywhere in modern war, in the air, on the sea, on the land, you must have command of the air.

There are no great men, only ordinary men, who have met extraordinary challenges.

Strike fast, strike hard, strike often.

When this war is over, the Japanese language will be spoken only in hell!

There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet.

Kill Japs, kills Japs, kill more Japs!

There are no great men, just great circumstances, and how they handle those circumstances will determine the outcome of history.

All problems become smaller if you don't dodge them but confront them.

Hit hard, hit first, hit often.

The only good Jap is one that's been dead six months.

[Admiral Nelson's counsel] guided me time and again. On the eve of the critical battle of Santa Cruz, in which the Japanese ships outnumbered ours more than two to one, I sent my task force commanders this dispatch: ATTACK REPEAT ATTACK. They did attack, heroically, and when the battle was done, the enemy turned away. All problems, personal, national, or combat, become smaller if you don't dodge them, but confront them. Touch a thistle timidly, and it pricks you; grasp it boldly, and its spines crumble. Carry the battle to the enemy! Lay your ship alongside his!

There aren't any great men. There are just great challenges that ordinary men like you and me are forced by circumstances to meet.