I never saw a pessimistic general win a battle.
quote by Dwight D. Eisenhower
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
I'm not pessimistic about people in general, but only about the way they live.
quote by Claude Chabrol
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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If the general opinion is pessimistic, fantasy is going to hold its own.
quote by David Eddings
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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General Grant had no fixed plan of campaign beyond the general idea to avoid the strong defensive line occupied by General Lee behind Mine Run, and find a way to draw him out to open battle.
quote by James Longstreet
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Peace Proposal
Said General Clay to General Gore really must we fight this silly war
To kill and die in such a bore I quite agree said General Gore
Said General Gore to General Clay we could go to the beach today
And have some icecream on the way a grand idea said General Clay
Said General Clay to General Gore we'll build sand castles on the shore
Said General Gore we'll splash and play let's leave right now said General Clay
Said General Gore to General Clay but what if the sea's closed today
And what if the sand's been blown away the dreadful thought said General Clay
Said General Gore to General Clay I've always feared the ocean's spray
And we may drown it's true we may it chills my blood said General Clay
Said General Clay to General Gore my bathin' suit is slightly tore
We better go on with our war I quite agree said General Gore
The General Clay chanrged General Gore as bullets flew and cannons roared
And now at last there is no more of General Clay or General Gore
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Generals
Said General Clay to General Gore,
'Oh must we fight this silly war?
To kill and die is such a bore.'
'I quite agree,' said General Gore.
Said General Gore to General Clay,
'We could go to the beach today
And have some ice cream on the way.'
'A grand idea,' said General Clay.
Said General Gore to General Clay,
'But what if the sea is closed today?
And what if the sand's been blown away?'
'A dreadful thought,' said General Clay.
Said General Gore to General Clay,
'I've always feared the ocean's spray,
And we may drown!' 'It's true, we may.
It chills my blood,' said General Clay.
Said General Clay to General Gore,
'My bathing suit is slightly tore.
We'd better go on with our war.'
'I quite agree,' said General Gore.
Then General Clay charged General Gore
As bullets flew and cannons roared.
And now, alas! there is no more
Of General Clay or General Gore.
poem by Sheldon Allan Silverstein
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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There are no optimistic or pessimistic personalities. There are only single, individual choices for optimistic or pessimistic thoughts.
quote by Steve Chandler
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.
Field of Battle
Forced are the troops of battle,
Into the field of war, of war.
Feed on their movement, general,
As a leader of war, of this battle.
I, a troop, have forced my mind
Into the war of my dreams,
Into the fire of my wishes;
They are like dread and scare.
To belittle a young man, who is a soldier,
A fighter, born of the skill to fight and parry,
Is never agreeable in the eyes of the warlord,
The hard man or woman, the harsh chief.
Punishment awaits those who excel at war crime
And force is a force that fades from power
To weak pull, a reaction to the enemy,
A full explosion for them who oppose.
Swords and crossbows are the implements
That win the war more than anything else.
Your horse is put to death, the standard-bearers
Are put down for their bravery, gallantry.
Forced are the troops of battle,
Into the field of war, of war.
Feed on their movement, general,
As a leader of war, of this battle.
poem by Naveed Akram
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My understanding is that what was provided was general order of battle information, not operational intelligence. I certainly have no knowledge of US participation in preparing battle and strike packages and doubt strongly that that occurred.
quote by Frank Carlucci
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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General Crossing
Its an old profession
Of subtle artillery.
Rough wheels meshing ---
Button out, button in.
The tall general will mine
A few bridges tonight,
Stroking soft machinery.
Fanfare at dawn
Courting green steel
Lined up for world war one
(two, three, four).
Its an old profession
Of subtle artillery.
Rough wheels meshing ---
On a landscape with no trees.
The tall general points
To the distance ---
Disconnects his power supply.
Writes a stiff note to his nearest
And dearest ---
He takes the battle plan
And contemplates his fly.
The tall general
Flies by the seat of history.
The tall general
Is crossing.
The tall general
He thinks inevitability.
The tall general
Is definitely crossing.
With spit and with polish ---
Time for desperate measures.
The pain in the forehead
From holding up to the pressures
Of life on the rim
Of the convenient alliance.
Out on the rim ---
Let me out on the rim.
The tall general will walk
Across the compound
With his briefcase and i.d.
Later theyll post him
Seemingly missing ---
Hes gone to be a generalski.
song performed by by Jethro Tull
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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General Pickett, finding the battle broken while the enemy was still reinforcing, called the troops off.
quote by James Longstreet
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I believe in the battle-whether it's the battle of a campaign or the battle of this office, which is a continuing battle.
quote by Richard Milhous Nixon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Farewell General
Oh General why did you end your life
Why did you leave all the issues behind
I thought you have that strong will
Put your name out of shame and sin
Is this your way to end this war
Did you get tired of breaking the bar
Why did you just desert this battle field
And left all your men in grief
Seems that you lose the courage
Or you just want to free yourself
Didn’t mind if others might be wounded
Oh, can they win this fight in the end
I’m not a fan of you General
I have a little knowledge of you, man
But I can’t help myself wonder why
A person like you preferred to die
If you’re truly innocent of what they say
Didn’t you know God will be on your way
And as the saying goes “the truth shall prevail”
You will be free and enjoy the happy days
After the people heard this shocking news
They can’t hide their feelings and views
Some finally concluded, some are misjudged
Some questions are answered and others left unsaid
I hope this tragedy serves people a cost
Consider this a lesson and learn from this loss
Leave to the concern the seeking for truth
Let’s pray for them to be fair and true
And for you General, I have this prayer
May the Lord grant you His care
May He forgive you for what you did
May your soul rest in peace
poem by Rose de Ramar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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At my age it is unseemly to be pessimistic.
quote by Naguib Mahfouz
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Politeness
The English and the French were met
Upon the field of future battle;
The foes were formidably set
And waiting for the guns to rattle;
When from the serried ranks of France
The English saw with woeful presage
Under a flaming flag advance
A trumpeter who bore a message.
'Twas from their Marshal, quite polite,
Yet made the English leader shiver.
"We're perched," said he, "upon the height,
While you're exposed beside the river.
We have the vantage, you'll agree,
And your look-out is melancholy;
But being famed for courtesy
We'll let you fire the starting volley."
The English General was moved,
In fact his eyes were almost tearful;
Then he too his politeness proved
By writing back: "We are not fearful.
Our England is too proud to take
The privilege you thrust upon her;
So let your guns in thunder break:
To you, M'sieu, shall be the houour."
Again a note the Marshall sent
By envoy for his battle station:
"Your spirit wins my compliment,
Your courage my appreciation.
Yet you are weak and we are strong,
And though your faith is most inspiring,
Don't let us linger all day long -
Mon General, begin the firing."
"How chivalrous the soul of France."
The English General reflected.
"I hate to take this happy chance,
But I suppose it's what's expected.
Politeness is a platitude
In this fair land of gallant foemen."
So with a heart of gratitude
He primed his guns and cried: "Let's go men!"
The General was puzzled when
No answer came, said he: "What is it?
Why don't they give us hell?" And then
The herald paid another visit.
The Marshall wrote: "to your salute
Please pardon us for not replying;
To shatter you we cannot shoot . . .
My men are dead and I am dying."
poem by Robert William Service
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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There are two great rules in life, the one general and the other particular. The first is that every one can in the end get what he wants if he only tries. This is the general rule. The particular rule is that every individual is more or less of an exception to the general rule.
quote by Samuel Butler
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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When I look at the world I'm pessimistic, but when I look at people I am optimistic.
quote by Carl R. Rogers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I'm now beginning to feel that the pessimistic vision is not for the movies.
quote by Karel Reisz
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A man may be a pessimistic determinist before lunch and an optimistic believer in the will's freedom after it.
quote by Aldous Huxley
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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