You’ve heard some of the motivating remarks by Gen. James Mattis, but did you know about the memes floating around the Internet that showcase some of his best quotes?
Marines love Mattis, this we know. One launched a presidential campaign for the outgoing head of U.S. Central Command. And another got fired over having one of the “Warrior Monk’s” famous quotes tattooed on his arm.
Mattis simply motivates today’s generation of Marines, and that has spread to the digital sphere. So in honor of this week’s profile on Mattis, as he prepares to pass the CENTCOM torch to Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, we’ve rounded up some of the general’s colorful quotes that have been tailored to motivate you even as you sit at your computer.
One is a particularly excellent drawing of Mattis by illustrator Ammon Perry, whose work can be seen here. Perry sketched it in honor of the Marine Corps’ 236th birthday, and included the message Mattis delivered as commanding general of 1st Marine Division before the Iraq invasion: “Demonstrate to the world there is ‘No Better Friend — No Worse Enemy’ than a U.S. Marine.”
And be sure to pick up a copy of this week’s Marine Corps Times for a full look at the dynamic career of Gen. James Mattis.
When Mattis said it: March 2003
Why he said it: This line closed the then-commanding general of 1st Marine Division’s all-hands message leading up to the invasion of Iraq.
(Courtesy of Ammon Perry/Ammon Perry Illustration)
When Mattis said it: Unclear, likely between 2003 and 2005
Why he said it: It was one of the rules then-Maj. Gen. Mattis gave his Marines in Iraq, as quoted in “Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq” by Thomas E. Ricks.
(Facebook)
When Mattis said it: March 2013
Why he said it: While testifying in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mattis was asked if Congress should boost funding for the State Department in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack on a diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya.
(Facebook)
When Mattis said it: April 2010
Why he said it: Mattis was responding to the point being made by Pentagon officials that the military had become obsessed with PowerPoint slides. It followed a comment made by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who was shown a slide on the Iraq War that was so complicated, he quipped that when they figured out how to read it, they’ll have won the war.
(QuoteSlides)
When Mattis said it: August 2006
Why he said it: In an interview with North County Times, Mattis was asked about the timeline of withdrawal from Iraq. He said the enemy shouldn’t know if a hard deadline was in sight, and that Marines would stay and continue to fight and protect no matter what was thrown in their paths.
(Facebook)
