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Badass historical quotes/statements

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George S. Patton's speech to the Third Army

(Not the movie version, this is an excerpt from his original uncensored speech.)

When a man is lying in a shell hole, if he just stays there all day, a Boche will get him eventually. The hell with that. My men don't dig foxholes. Foxholes only slow up an offensive. Keep moving. We'll win this war, but we'll win it only by fighting and showing the Germans that we've got more guts than they have or ever will have. We're not just going to shoot the bastards, we're going to rip out their living goddamned guts and use them to grease the treads of our tanks. We're going to murder those lousy Hun cocksuckers by the bushel-fucking-basket.

Some of you men are wondering whether or not you'll chicken out under fire. Don't worry about it. I can assure you that you'll all do your duty. War is a bloody business, a killing business. The Nazis are the enemy. Wade into them, spill their blood or they will spill yours. Shoot them in the guts. Rip open their belly. When shells are hitting all around you and you wipe the dirt from your face and you realize that it's not dirt, it's the blood and gut of what was once your best friend, you'll know what to do.

I don't want any messages saying 'I'm holding my position.' We're not holding a goddamned thing. We're advancing constantly and we're not interested in holding anything except the enemy's balls. We're going to hold him by his balls and we're going to kick him in the ass; twist his balls and kick the living shit out of him all the time. Our plan of operation is to advance and keep on advancing. We're going to go through the enemy like shit through a tinhorn.
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BareGrills said:
lincoln-quote.jpg
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Truly a man ahead of his time.
 
Louis XIV had Ultima Ratio Regum inscribed on his cannons at Versailles. It translates to "Last Argument of Kings."

Edit: Also, there's supposedly a plaque at Thermopylae that reads, "Go tell those Spartans passerby, That here, loyal to their laws, we lie."
 
“Before we're done with them, the Japanese language will be spoken only in Hell!”
- US Navy Admiral William Halsey, after Pearl Harbor.
 
Phillip II of Macedon: "You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army on your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people and raze your city."

The Spartans: "If."
 
While winning the siege of Beziers in 1209 during the Albigensian Crusade the commander of the Crusaders The Abbot of Citeaux Arnaud Amalric was asked “Sir, what shall we do, for we cannot distinguish between the faithful and the heretics.” He replied “Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius" often translated as:

"Kill them all. Let God sort them out."

20,000 died
 
"I am, and you will see the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven". Last thing Jesus said before he was crucified. Cue every modern music artist on the planet ripping that off to sell records because it was so epic (the "I am" part specifically). I'm sternly looking at you disappointed Will.I.am.
 
Jan Žižka said:
"Make my skin into drum heads for the Bohemian cause."
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I'm sure the quote is embellished but it's the reported last words before his death. He was one of history's few undefeated generals who wanted to continue to lead troops on the battlefield after his death.
 
a) A conversation between a British officer and a French privateer.

British officer: "You French fight for money, while we British fight for honor."
Robert Surcouf: "Sir, a man fights for what he lacks the most."


b) “Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”
― Heraclitus
 
And speaking of Hardcore History:

We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men — not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes that were, for the moment, unpopular.
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Edward R. Murrow on Joseph McCarthy.

As valid today as it was then.
 
I'm partial to this.

Winston Churchill said:
"Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."
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Delenda est Carthago
Carthage must be destroyed.
- Often said by Cato the Elder at the end of his speeches during the Punic Wars.

Alea iacta est
The die is cast
- Supposedly said by Caesar when he crossed the river Rubicon to go after the Senate.
 
The classic:

"Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant."
Hail Caesar, we who are about to die salute you.

Exclaimed by Roman prisoners doomed to die in the arena during mock naval combat.


Rug Monkey said:
While winning the siege of Beziers in 1209 during the Albigensian Crusade the commander of the Crusaders The Abbot of Citeaux Arnaud Amalric was asked “Sir, what shall we do, for we cannot distinguish between the faithful and the heretics.” He replied “Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius" often translated as:

"Kill them all. Let God sort them out."

20,000 died
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This is the baddest shit, nothing posted yet tops this
 
RedSwirl said:
Phillip II of Macedon: "You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army on your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people and raze your city."

The Spartans: "If."
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This one wins I think.

Rug Monkey said:
While winning the siege of Beziers in 1209 during the Albigensian Crusade the commander of the Crusaders The Abbot of Citeaux Arnaud Amalric was asked “Sir, what shall we do, for we cannot distinguish between the faithful and the heretics.” He replied “Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius" often translated as:

"Kill them all. Let God sort them out."

20,000 died
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Ok we have a tie.
 
“Sure, we want to go home. We want this war over with. The quickest way to get it over with is to go get the bastards who started it. The quicker they are whipped, the quicker we can go home. The shortest way home is through Berlin and Tokyo. And when we get to Berlin, I am personally going to shoot that paper hanging son-of-a-bitch Hitler. Just like I’d shoot a snake!”
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– General George Patton Jr
(addressing his troops before Operation Overlord, June 5, 1944)

Have taken Trier with two divisions. What do you want me to do? Give it back?
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- Reply to a message from General Dwight Eisenhower to bypass the German city of Trier because it would take four divisions to capture it (2 March 1945), as quoted in the Introduction to War as I Knew it (1947) by George Smith Patton, Jr., with Paul Donal Harkins, p. 20


Patton was a quote machine.
 
adamsappel said:
"I am just going outside and may be some time." Lawrence Oates


I am so happy you did not attribute Oppenheimer.
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I would also say that

"'I am become death, destroyer of worlds-Bhagavad Gita' -Oppenheimer"

Takes on a whole other much more chilling meaning.
 
"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it."

-Winston "Iron Balls" Churchill


Of course this is a paraphrase from the actual quote, "For my part, I consider that it will be found much better by all Parties to leave the past to history, especially as I propose to write that history."
 
sooperkool said:
"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it."

-Winston "Iron Balls" Churchill


Of course this is a paraphrase from the actual quote, "For my part, I consider that it will be found much better by all Parties to leave the past to history, especially as I propose to write that history."
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And it's true, Churchill was a terrible prime minister and a terrible person, the super flattering depiction he wrote of himself in The Second World War had a whole lot to do with the way he's remembered.

He was quite a gifted writer though.
 
From Cicero

“While there's life, there's hope.”
"Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts."
 
Atraveller said:
Didn't the Spartans lose?
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Phillip considered them to be insignificant and left them alone. They led a failed revolt against Macedon while Alexander was away conquering Persia.

The Romans eventually took over the administration of Sparta after their conquest of Greece.
 
"Retreat? hell we're attacking in a different direction" Patton at the battle of Chosin Reservoir

"I'm Not Ordering You to Attack! I'm Ordering You to Die!" Lt. Colonel Mustafa Kemal at the battle of Gallipoli.
 
My loving people

We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear. I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust.

I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.

I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you on a word of a prince, they shall be duly paid. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.
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QE1 was a [ b a d a s s ]
 
General Sherman's letter to Atlanta is well worth reading.

James M. Calhoun, Mayor, E.E. Rawson, S.C. Wells, representing City Council of Atlanta.

Gentlemen,

I have your letter of the 11th, in the nature of a petition to revoke my orders removing all the inhabitants from Atlanta. I have read it carefully, and give full credit to your statements of the distress that will be occasioned, any yet shall not revoke my orders, because they were not designed to meet the humanities of the case, but to prepare for the future struggles in which millions of good people outside of Atlanta have a deep interest. We must have Peace, not only in Atlanta, but in All America. To secure this, we must stop the war that now desolates our once happy and favored country. To stop war, we must defeat the rebel armies which are now arrayed against the laws and Constitution that all must respect and obey. To defeat those armies, we must prepare the way to reach them in their recesses, provided with the arms and instruments which enable us to accomplish our purpose. Now I know the vindictive nature of our enemy, that we may have many years of military operations from this quarter; and, therefore, deem it wise and prudent to prepare in time. The use of Atlanta for warlike purposes is inconsistent with its character as a home for families. There will be no manufactures, commerce, or agriculture here, for the maintenance of families, and sooner or later want will compel the inhabitants to go. Why no go now, when all the arrangements are completed for the transfer, instead of waiting till the plunging shot of contending armies will renew the scenes of the past month? Of course, I do not apprehend any such thing at this moment, but you do not suppose this army will be here until the war is over. I cannot discuss this subject with you fairly, because I cannot impart to you what we propose to do, but I assert that our military plans make it necessary for the Inhabitants to go away, and I can only renew my offer of services to make their exodus in any direction as easy and comfortable as possible. You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our Country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out. I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to Secure Peace. But you cannot have Peace and a Division of our Country. If the United States submits to a Division now it will not stop, but will go on until we reap the fate of Mexico, which is Eternal War. The United States does and must assert its authority, wherever it once had power; for, if it relaxes one bit to pressure, it is gone, and I believe that such is the National Feeling. This Feeling assumes various shapes, but always comes back to that of Union. Once admit the Union, once more acknowledge the Authority of the National Government, and, instead of devoting your houses and streets and roads to the dread uses of war, I and this army become at once your protectors and supporters, shielding you from danger, let it come from what quarter it may. I know that a few individuals cannot resist a torrent of error and passion, such as swept the South into rebellion, but you can point out, so that we may know those who desire a government, and those who insist on war and its desolation.

You might as well appeal against the thunder-storm as against these terrible hardships of war. They are inevitable, and the only way the people of Atlanta can hope once more to live in peace and quiet at home, is to stop the war, which can only be done by admitting that it began in error and is perpetuated in pride. We don't want your negroes, or your horses, or your houses, or your hands, or any thing that you have, but we do want and will have a just obedience to the laws of the United States. That we will have, and, if it involves the destruction of your improvements, we cannot help it. You have heretofore read public sentiment in your newspapers, that live by falsehood and excitement; and the quicker you seek for truth in other quarters, the better.

I repeat then that, by the original compact of Government, the United States had certain rights in Georgia, which have never been relinquished and never will be; that the South began war by seizing forts, arsenals, mints, custom-houses, etc., etc., long before Mr. Lincoln was installed, and before the South had one jot or title of provocation. I myself have seen in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi, hundreds of thousands of women and children fleeing from your armies and desperadoes, hungry and with bleeding feet. In Memphis, Vicksburg, and Mississippi, we fed thousands upon thousands of families of rebel soldiers left in our hands, and whom we could not see starve. Now that war comes home to you, you feel very different. You depreciate its horrors, but did not feel them when you sent car-loads of soldiers and ammunition, and moulded shells and shot, to carry war into Kentucky and Tennessee, to desolate the homes of hundreds of thousands of good people who only asked to live in peace at their old homes, and under the Government of their inheritance. But these comparisons are idle. I want peace, and believe it (can) only be reached through union and war, and I will ever conduct war with a view to perfect and early success.

But my dear sirs when Peace does come, you may call on me for any thing-Then I will share with you the last cracker, and watch with you to shield your homes and families against danger from every quarter.

Now you must go, and take with you the old and feeble, feed and nurse them, and build for them, in more quiet places, proper habitations to shield them against the (wea)ther until the mad passions of men cool down, and allow the Union and (pe)ace once more to settle over your old homes at Atlanta. Yrs., in haste,

W.T. Sherman, Major-General commanding
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Looked up an english translation:

So that I may perceive whatever holds // The world together in its inmost folds.

Daß ich erkenne, was die Welt Im Innersten zusammenhält

- Goethe
 
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