James Mattis quotes

James Mattis is a retired United States Marine Corps general and former Secretary of Defense. Known for his leadership in major military operations and his deep knowledge of military strategy. He is respected for his disciplined approach, intellectual rigor, and dedication to service. Here are 35 of his quotes:

PowerPoint makes us stupid.

James Mattis

There are hunters, and there are victims. By your discipline, cunning, obedience, and alertness, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.

James Mattis

The most important 6 inches on the battlefield is between your ears.

James Mattis

Treachery has existed as long as there's been warfare, and there's always been a few people that you couldn't trust.

James Mattis

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across coalition and national lines, and across civilian/military lines, you need to go home, because your leadership is obsolete.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 Mattis

You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them. Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up front with you - I like brawling.

James Mattis

There is only one ‘retirement plan' for terrorists.

James Mattis

To risk death willingly, to venture forth knowing that in so doing you may cease to exist is an unnatural act. To take the life of a fellow human being or to watch your closest comrades die exacts a profound emotional toll.

James Mattis

You don't always control your circumstances, but you can always control your response.

James Mattis

Good afternoon, Marines. Thank you for your attention so late on a Friday. I know the women of Southern California are waiting for you, so I won't waste your time.

James Mattis

When you were the commander of the Central Command, how much time, worry did you have on Iran? Was that your primary concern? I don't have worry and stress. I cause worry and stress.

James Mattis

Reading sheds light on our dark path ahead. By traveling into the past, I enhance my grasp of the present.

James Mattis

John Dickerson: What keeps you awake at night? James Mattis: Nothing, I keep other people awake at night.

James Mattis

None of the widely touted new technologies and weapons systems "would have helped me in the last three years [in Iraq and Afghanistan]. But I could have used cultural training [and] language training. I could have used more products from American universities [who] understood the world does not revolve around America and [who] embrace coalitions and allies for all of the strengths that they bring us."

James Mattis

Combining al Qaeda's significant fighting capabilities with a stronger focus on the administrative capabilities that might permit it to hold ground, the Islamic State copied the latter from Hezbollah's model. Basically, Islamic State is a combined al Qaeda and Lebanese Hezbollah on steroids, destabilizing the region, dissolving borders/changing the political geography in the mid-east, and hardening political positions that make mid-east peace-building more remote by the day.

James Mattis

For all the ‘4th Generation of War' intellectuals running around today saying that the nature of war has fundamentally changed, the tactics are wholly new, etc., I must respectfully say, ‘Not really': Alexander the Great would not be in the least bit perplexed by the enemy that we face right now in Iraq, and our leaders going into this fight do their troops a disservice by not studying - studying, vice just reading - the men who have gone before us. We have been fighting on this planet for 5,000 years and we should take advantage of their experience. ‘Winging it' and filling body bags as we sort out what works reminds us of the moral dictates and the cost of incompetence in our profession.

James Mattis

To all who serve in defense of our values.

James Mattis

I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all.

James Mattis

I think the rewards for moral courage are promotion. ... Any institution gets the behavior it rewards. Now if the institution gets rotten, you can have a problem with this. It's happened to institutions, it's happened to corporations. It's why you have to be very alert to this to keep your personal and managerial integrity.

James Mattis

Ultimately, a real understanding of history means that we face NOTHING new under the sun.

James Mattis

There is nothing better than getting shot at and missed. It's really great.

James Mattis

It's good to be back and I'm grateful to serve alongside you as Secretary of Defense. Together with the Intelligence Community we are the sentinels and guardians of our nation. We need only look to you, the uniformed and civilian members of the Department and your families, to see the fundamental unity of our country. You represent an America committed to the common good; an America that is never complacent about defending its freedoms; and an America that remains a steady beacon of hope for all mankind.

James Mattis