141 Quotes by Jim Mattis

As Churchill noted, “A lie gets halfway around the world before truth gets its pants on.” In our age, a lie can get a thousand times around the world before the truth gets its pants on.

Leaders at all ranks, but especially at high ranks, must keep in their inner circle people who will unhesitatingly point out when a leader’s personal behavior or decisions are not appropriate.

PowerPoint is the scourge of critical thinking. It encourages fragmented logic by the briefer and passivity in the listener.

Wise leadership requires collaboration; otherwise it will lead to failure.

Critics of the military often contend that people join the military because they have no other economic options, but it is more likely the case that most in the military are motivated by some degree of patriotism and a sense of service. Those who do are more likely to possess or seek the traditional virtues normally associated with military service in the public mind: discipline, loyalty, courage, honor, and self-sacrifice.

But having a plan counts for nothing unless those above you are made confident that you can execute. As the leader, you maintain communications connectivity up, not just down.

Men who are familiarized to danger meet it without shrinking; whereas troops unused to service often apprehend danger where no danger is.

I learned then and I believe now that everyone needs a mentor or to be a mentor – and that no one needs a tyrant. At the same time, there’s no substitute for.

The first is competence. Be brilliant in the basics. Don’t dabble in your job; you must master it.