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General George S. Patton was a master of high-stakes leadership. He believed that 'a leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances. ' He was famous for his 'blood and guts' approach, demanding absolute loyalty and aggressive action. Patton taught that leadership is not a popularity contest; it is the responsibility to make the hard calls that ensure the team's survival and victory. He led from the front, believing that a leader must share the risks of his subordinates.
"A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances."
"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."
"Lack of orders is no excuse for inaction."
"Nobody ever defended anything successfully, there is only attack and attack and attack some more."
"The soldier is the army."
"An army is a team. It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team."
"Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way."
"Lead from the front."
"Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men."
"Cowardice is a disease and it must be checked before it becomes an epidemic."
"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."
"Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men."
"Discipline is not a matter of rules and regulations. It is a matter of spirit."
"Do everything you ask of those you command."
"There is a great deal of talk about loyalty from the bottom to the top. Loyalty from the top down is even more necessary and is much less prevalent."
Seeing how George S Patton approaches Leadership helps you apply the idea with more precision.
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