gunnyg
10-04-02, 11:03 AM
Have never seen this one before, came in this morning's e-mail--yeah, he was a
doggy--but he was also Chesty's distant cousin.
Sounds like something he would say--can anyone verify?
"GEN George S. Patton Jr. once said:
'No one is thinking if everyone is thinking alike. In too many
organizations, toadyism is buried like a cancer. It must be removed with the
sharpest bayonet available.
All sorts of suggestions, ideas, concepts, and
opinions must be allowed to promote an environment of learning and
imagination. A fault of many potentially fine commanders is a lack of the
ability to admit that other people have good ideas.
If younger Soldiers are
not allowed to use and cultivate their imaginations and their abilities for
abstract thought, where will we get the next generations of qualified,
motivated, and confident commanders? Commanders who never ask for an
opinion, never listen to suggestions, and think they have the only correct
idea find that their Soldiers will stop communicating altogether.
They'll
begin to sit on their asses and wait for orders before doing anything. No
matter how high in the ranks a man goes, he can't know everything. We can
always learn from each other. Juniors must learn not only to be allowed to
use their imaginations, but they must be encouraged to do so.
Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent
characteristic in men. I cannot count the times I've seen men who should
know better than to keep quiet when unjust decisions are being made,
decisions that literally affect the lives of tens of thousands of Soldiers.
These decisions are made, not on the basis of sound military policy, but
purely to further the political and personal ambition of officers in high
command. Cowardice on the battlefield is disgusting enough.
Cowardice in the
military planning room is repugnant. It ultimately means the unnecessary
death, mutilation, and disfigurement of Soldiers for the sake of the
commanders. It takes courage to stand up for what is believed to be right
and just. Most men seem to lack such courage. Sycophancy for the sake of
career is just as deadly as incompetence.'"
doggy--but he was also Chesty's distant cousin.
Sounds like something he would say--can anyone verify?
"GEN George S. Patton Jr. once said:
'No one is thinking if everyone is thinking alike. In too many
organizations, toadyism is buried like a cancer. It must be removed with the
sharpest bayonet available.
All sorts of suggestions, ideas, concepts, and
opinions must be allowed to promote an environment of learning and
imagination. A fault of many potentially fine commanders is a lack of the
ability to admit that other people have good ideas.
If younger Soldiers are
not allowed to use and cultivate their imaginations and their abilities for
abstract thought, where will we get the next generations of qualified,
motivated, and confident commanders? Commanders who never ask for an
opinion, never listen to suggestions, and think they have the only correct
idea find that their Soldiers will stop communicating altogether.
They'll
begin to sit on their asses and wait for orders before doing anything. No
matter how high in the ranks a man goes, he can't know everything. We can
always learn from each other. Juniors must learn not only to be allowed to
use their imaginations, but they must be encouraged to do so.
Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent
characteristic in men. I cannot count the times I've seen men who should
know better than to keep quiet when unjust decisions are being made,
decisions that literally affect the lives of tens of thousands of Soldiers.
These decisions are made, not on the basis of sound military policy, but
purely to further the political and personal ambition of officers in high
command. Cowardice on the battlefield is disgusting enough.
Cowardice in the
military planning room is repugnant. It ultimately means the unnecessary
death, mutilation, and disfigurement of Soldiers for the sake of the
commanders. It takes courage to stand up for what is believed to be right
and just. Most men seem to lack such courage. Sycophancy for the sake of
career is just as deadly as incompetence.'"