Favorite quote or phrase?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:04:05 -0400

What is a phrase that has stuck with you since the first time you heard it? Something that is always in the back of your mind in your daily activities and interactions with other people. Perhaps it is a small bit of wisdom someone took the time to impart on your mind as a youngster, or a favorite quote that you read or heard somewhere. I'll lead off with mine, given to me by my recently deceased father when I was about 12 years old. I'm sure it wasn't his originally, but hearing it from Dad really made it stick with me. He said to me, after I got into a tussle with someone who was harassing a friend of mine, "Son, never argue with an idiot, they'll just drag you down to their level, and beat you with experience". I admit, I sometimes have a short fuse to a large temper when it comes to what I view as stupidity, and at times it gets me in trouble, but I try to remember this phrase when I see that there is just no changing someone's mind about something, no matter how much evidence you may have to the contrary of their beliefs. It enables me to chuckle, and let things go at times when I have an issue keeping my mouth shut. So, what's a phrase or quote that you carry with you or that has had an impact on your life at some point?

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 4:05 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:05:38 -0400

"It occurs to me it is not so much the aim of a devil to lure me with evil as it is to preoccupy me with the meaningless. "
— Donald Miller

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 29 at 2015 4:14 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:14:43 -0400

"Duty, Honor, Country" was instilled in me as USMA cadet has helped to guide me throughout my military career and afterwards.
From Shakespeare's Hamlet which I had to memorize as a cadet at West Point
"To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer. The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune, Or to take Arms against a Sea of of Troubles..."

Response by SFC John Durham made Sep 29 at 2015 4:16 PM

SFC John Durham — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:16:04 -0400

If you can get it through your head that you can do it; your ass will follow.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Sep 29 at 2015 4:16 PM

SSgt David Tedrow — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:16:40 -0400

"Don't ask the question if you don't want to hear the answer."

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Sep 29 at 2015 4:18 PM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:18:35 -0400

What part of "NO" don't you understand?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 4:21 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:21:54 -0400

Lower zipper lock failure

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 4:35 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:35:58 -0400

What in the 50 kinds of fuck...!?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 4:37 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:37:23 -0400

That's too stupid to make up!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 4:38 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:38:25 -0400

2+2=4... No matter how you look at it... (Degrading insult follows here)!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 4:39 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:39:01 -0400

BOHICA

Response by GySgt John O'Donnell made Sep 29 at 2015 4:58 PM

GySgt John O'Donnell — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:58:51 -0400

"When facing a problem without a clear solution, one must ask themself,
W.W.G.D. - What Would Gunny Do!"

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 5:25 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 17:25:58 -0400

"Of course it's a challenge, that's why they call it a shortcut. If it were easy, it would just be 'the way'." -Road Trip, 2000

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 5:52 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 17:52:53 -0400

Here's mine!

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Sep 29 at 2015 6:19 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 18:19:48 -0400

I am not saying that I agree with this one but I have always remembered it. A lawyer that I went to college with had a plaque on the wall in his office that said "Fuck the world before it fucks you, shit on everybody". It has been my observation that many lawyers live by that one.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 10:33 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:33:58 -0400

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 10:43 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:43:16 -0400

"Stay in your three-foot world." Mark Owen

Response by SSG Louis Novak made Sep 29 at 2015 10:50 PM

SSG Louis Novak — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:50:52 -0400

You are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 10:51 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:51:44 -0400

The 7Ps: Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance.

My mom taught me two proverbs that I have found contain quite a bit of wisdom. "When the tree is felled, every man runs for his hatchet." And "It's a sin to paint even the devil blacker than he is." The first one I see all the time. Think of Bill Cosby. As soon as he as accusations stuck, women came out one after another with accusations. It doesn't mean that they don't have merit, but "when the tree is felled, every man runs for his hatchet. The second, I don't think I need to explain.

Response by 1SG Antwan Nicholson made Sep 29 at 2015 11:09 PM

1SG Antwan Nicholson — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 23:09:13 -0400

"No matter what, 33% will be with you...33% will be against you...and 33% will be sitting on the fence. If you can sway the 33% on the fence to follow your lead, you'll be able to accomplish the mission with 66% of their support."

SGM Maurice Riley.

Response by SSG Michael Hathaway made Sep 30 at 2015 4:30 AM

SSG Michael Hathaway — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 04:30:02 -0400

Don't ask a subordinate to do something you yourself refuse to do.

I got that from my first manager. And to this day, I still take out trash, sweep/mop, clean the latrines, etc. I helped make the mess, and I shouldn't be above helping clean it up as well.

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Sep 30 at 2015 9:41 AM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 09:41:21 -0400

As a young Airman at my first duty station, I overlooked a portion of a task I was assigned. My first level supervisor came to me and asked what happened and why did I fail to complete the task 100%.
me: I forgot.
supervisor: What? I forgot? Picture this scenario, Judge, I "forgot" murder was a felony! Now do you think that would fly in a court of law?
me: No.
supervisor: Me either! Now get your shit squared away and do it right, I don't ever want to hear "I forgot" from you ever again.

To this day, those words echo through my skull every time I hear "I forgot". :)

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Sep 30 at 2015 9:48 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 09:48:39 -0400

Don't sweat the small stuff--tomorrow it will be history.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Sep 30 at 2015 11:21 AM

SGT Patrick Reno — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 11:21:35 -0400

Everyone f--cks up sometimes, but only f--kups make excuses.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 8:06 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 20:06:48 -0400

Thats as awkward as a nun doing squats in a cucumber field.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 8:50 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 08:50:38 -0400

Response by SSG Louis Novak made Oct 1 at 2015 9:40 PM

SSG Louis Novak — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 21:40:32 -0400

Two more of my favorite quotes:
"An army of deer led by a lion is to be feared more than an army of lions led by a deer".
"I am the wisest man alive, for I know that I know nothing".
-Socrates

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 4 at 2015 6:13 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 18:13:36 -0400

Never Quit!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 11 at 2015 2:35 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 14:35:00 -0400

My word is gold. This means there is only one outcome.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 12 at 2015 9:14 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 21:14:47 -0400

Target Identified!