Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein quotes

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein was a British Army officer and one of the most distinguished military commanders of World War II. Best known for his leadership during the Second Battle of El Alamein, he played a critical role in the Allied victory in North Africa. He became a national hero and a symbol of determination and strategic brilliance. Here are 18 of his quotes:

Every soldier must know, before he goes into battle, how the little battle he is to fight fits into the larger picture, and how the success of his fighting will influence the battle as a whole.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Discipline strengthens the mind so that it becomes impervious to the corroding influence of fear.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Anyone who votes Labour ought to be locked up.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

I want to impose on everyone that the bad times are over, they are finished! Our mandate from the Prime Minister is to destroy the Axis forces in North Africa...It can be done, and it will be done!

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

The frightful casualties appalled me. The so-called "good fighting generals" of the war appeared to me to be those who had a complete disregard for human life. There were of course exceptions and I suppose one was Plumer; I had only once seen him and I had never spoken to him.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

If we lose the war in the air we lose the war and lose it quickly.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

I was well beaten myself, and I am better for it.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Air power is indivisible. If you split it up into compartments, you merely pull it to pieces and destroy its greatest asset - its flexibility.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

The United States has broken the second rule of war. That is: don't go fighting with your land army on the mainland in Asia. Rule One is, don't march on Moscow. I developed those two rules myself.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

The first duty of a leader is opti­mism. How does your sub­or­di­nate feel after meet­ing with you? Does he feel uplifted? If not, you are not a leader.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Rule 1, on page 1 of the book of war, is: "Do not march on Moscow". Various people have tried it, Napoleon and Hitler, and it is no good. That is the first rule. I do not know whether your Lordships will know Rule 2 of war. It is: "Do not go fighting with your land armies in China". It is a vast country, with no clearly defined objectives.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Decisions! And a general, a commander in chief who has not got the quality of decision, then he is no good.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

One always had the curious feeling of being taught by a great master. In this connection it is interesting to note that he was privately and affectionately known by those who worked for him at TAC HQ as 'Master'.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Monty was not such a dashing, romantic figure as his opponent; nor would you find him leading a forlorn hope in person, for the simple reason that if he was in command forlorn hopes did not occur. He had an extraordinary capacity for putting his finger straight on the essentials of any problem, and of being able to explain them simply and clearly. He planned all his battles most carefully - and then put them out of his mind every night. I believe he was awakened in the night only half a dozen times during the whole war.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

In defeat, unbeatable; in victory, unbearable.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Much has been written about the remarkable effect Montgomery had on the troops, his appearance in peculiar hats, and so on. This was superficial. We judged him on results and his manner of achievement. Many of the troops never saw him: our first encounter was months later at Tripoli. Yet the signs of a new grip on affairs was palpable, as Churchill noticed. There was the first of those special messages to the troops. These were printed on sheets, some 11 inches by 8 inches, and were widely circulated. The first gave the gist of the famous address to the staff. We were going to fight where we stood. There would be no withdrawal, no surrender. We had to do our duty so long as we had breath in our bodies.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein