Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by H. Norman Schwarzkopf (United States Army Officer)

Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. (1934–2012,) fully Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr., nickname Stormin’ Norman, was an American Army general. He became internationally known as the United States Central Command chief, who oversaw all coalition forces in the Persian Gulf War.

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Schwarzkopf attended the U.S. Military Academy and served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1956. During the Vietnam War, he won two Purple Hearts and three Silver Stars (for courage in battle.) He was the deputy commander of U.S. forces during the invasion of Grenada in 1983. Promoted to full general in 1988 and appointed commander in chief of the U.S. Central Command 1988–91.

Schwarzkopf directed the Allied forces during Operation Desert Storm against Iraq in the Persian Gulf War in 1991. He became famous for devising a strategic military strike that almost directly crippled Iraqi forces. He also proved a significant success in leading foreign troops and in his relations with the world’s press. He returned home to a hero’s welcome after the triumphant liberation of Kuwait in 1991, with minimal loss of life to allied troops but massive damage to then-President Saddam Hussein’s forces and Iraqi infrastructure.

Schwarzkopf retired from the army in 1992 and wrote the autobiography It Doesn’t Take A Hero (1993.)

More: Wikipedia READ: Works by H. Norman Schwarzkopf

A professional soldier understands that war means killing people, war means maiming people, war means families left without fathers and mothers. All you have to do is hold your first dying soldier in your arms, and have that terribly futile feeling that his life is flowing out and you can’t do anything about it. Then you understand the horror of war. Any soldier worth his salt should be antiwar. And still, there are things worth fighting for.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf
Topics: War

Anybody who says they’re not afraid of war is either a liar, or they’re crazy.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf

I admire men of character and I judge character not by how men deal with their superiors, but mostly how they deal with their subordinates. And that, to me, is where you find out what the character of a man is.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf
Topics: Character

When placed in command—take charge.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf
Topics: Leaders, Leadership

The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf

Judge your enemy based upon capabilities, not intent, you have to look at the enemy and really almost make a worst case call every time.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf
Topics: Judgement

It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf
Topics: Heroes, Heroism, Heroes/Heroism

Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf
Topics: Character, Leaders, Leadership

Do what is right, not what you think the high headquarters wants or what you think will make you look good.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf

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