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That’s what officers must do – break the cycle of fear. If a soldier is concentrating on his own feelings and on his own fear, and he sees you moving around, he realizes that you’re sharing the burden with him. That’s why he can then move.

Major Dick Winters

True satisfaction comes from getting the job done. Ribbons, medals, and accolades, then, are poor substitutes to the ability to look yourself in the mirror every night and know that you did your best.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Done Medal Mirror Night Poor Satisfaction Subsitute
If you have character, that means the guy you are dealing with can trust you.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Character Deal Guy Trust
War exposes the best and worst of those who are called to fight. I know of no man who lacked character in peace and then discovered his character in combat.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Character Discover Fight Lack Peace War
The key to being a successful combat leader is to earn respect, not because of rank, but because you are a man.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Key Leadership Man Rank Respect Success
Lead from the front. Say, “Follow me!” and then lead the way.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Follow Leadership Soldier
If combat had taught me anything, it taught me what was essential in life and what wasn’t.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Essential Life Teaching
I would find a nice peaceful town and spend the rest of my life in peace.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Life Peace Spend
Develop your team. If you know your people, are fair in setting realistic goals and expectations, and lead by example, you will develop teamwork.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Development Example Expectation Goals People Real Teamwork
We salute the rank not the man.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Man Rank Slute Soldier
Very few men can remain poised under an artillery concentration.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Concentration Men
I have always prided myself that I do my own thinking. I have my own philosophy. I have my own answer to the reasons things have turned out in my life.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Answer Life Philosophy Pride Reason
The recurring theme which predisposes people to depression is rejection and lack of self-esteem.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Depression Lack People Rejection Self Esteem Theme
Suicide is a very permanent solution to what is usually a temporary problem.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Permanent Problem Solution Suicide
A man can get something from war that is impossible to acquire any place else.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Acquire Impossible Man Place
War brings out the worst and the best in people. Wars do not make men great, but they do bring out the greatness in good men.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Greatness People War Worse
Find your personal peace and solitude in a turbulent world.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Finding Peace Personal Solitude World
We all experienced sleep deprivation at times – hat is the nature of stress but a physically exhausted leader routinely makes poor decisions in times of crisis.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Deprivation Exhaust Experience Hat Leadership Nature Physical Stress
I found myself highly critical of any leader who failed to lead by example.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Critical Failure Leadership War
I would also urge leaders to remain humble. If you don’t worry about who gets the credit, you get a lot more done.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Credit Done Humble Leadership Urge Worry
The men trust in you, have faith in you, and they obey, no questions asked. That’s character in a nutshell.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Character Faith Men Question Trust
The intensity of a fire, or a heavy concentration, to be a leader, you have to be able to concentrate on that fire and move just as soon as it stops or the last round hits.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Concentration Fire Intensity Leadership Stop
Because I was in such good shape, my fatigue level never reached the point of physical exhaustion that contributes to mental exhaustion and, ultimately, to combat fatigue.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Contribution Exhaust Fatigue Physical War
It is far easier to find quiet than to find peace. True peace must come from within oneself.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Easy Oneself Peace Quiet
Anticipate problems and prepare to overcome obstacles. Don’t wait until you get to the top of the ridge and then make up your mind.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Anticipate Mind Obstacle Problem Wait
If you are a leader, a fellow who other fellows look to, you have to keep going.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Fellow Leadership
The paratroopers were the best soldiers at the infantry school and I wanted to be with the best.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

School Soldier Want
As a leader you do not stop and calculate your losses during combat.
MAJOR DICK WINTERS

Calculation Leadership Loss War

That’s what officers must do – break the cycle of fear. If a soldier is concentrating on his own feelings and on his own fear, and he sees you moving around, he realizes that you’re sharing the burden with him. That’s why he can then move.

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That’s what officers must do – break the cycle of fear. If a soldier is concentrating on his own feelings and on his own fear, and he sees you moving around, he realizes that you’re sharing the burden with him. That’s why he can then move.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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