The Military Quotation Book, Revised and Expanded: More than 1,200 of the Best Quotations About War, Leadership, Courage, Victory, and Defeat [Hardcover]

James Charlton (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 23, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0312266448 | ISBN-13: 978-0312266448 | Edition: 1st

Revised and expanded to include over 1,200 quotations, The Military Quotation Book brings together the wisdom of fallen heroes and living politicians, honored statesmen and rebellious writers-quoting official edicts as well as off-the-record remarks.

Ten years ago, with World War II, Korea and Vietnam still sharp memories, James Charlton collected words of wisdom about the work of war, usually wise, often witty, all honoring the men and women who do that work. Although this new and expanded edition of The Military Quotation Book was readied for production before U.S. fighters were once more front-page news, it comes at a more than appropriate time. There are over 1,200 quotations, more than twice as many as previously. We hear from the generals and admirals of the past and present, from American presidents as well as from those at the bottom of the roster -- ordinary enlisted men and women from every branch. Civilians have their varying says as well. This gem of a book is a kaleidoscope of points of view, and every one hits its mark.

For everyone who has his or her own take on the military, for history buffs, speechmakers, veterans and those serving now, The Military Quotation Book is a loaded canon of memorable expressions.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Whether one believes that patriotism is "the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons," (Bertrand Russell) or that "the man who loves other countries as much as his own stands on a level with the man who loves other women as much as he loves his own wife" (Teddy Roosevelt), one will find something provocative in The Military Quotation Book. Editor James Charlton (The Executive's Quotation Book) has expanded an earlier edition to include musings in categories like "Fear," "Air Power" and "Revolutions." Quotes come from military leaders and civilians through the ages, from Pyrrhus to George Bernard Shaw to Mohammed Daoud.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

James Charlton is the editor of The Executive's Quotation Book, The Writer's Quotation Book, and Legal Briefs. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 1st edition (February 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312266448
• ISBN-13: 978-0312266448
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #869,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Quotes That Go Beyond Military, April 28, 2010

By 

J. Murray (Laguna Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Military Quotation Book, Revised and Expanded: More than 1,200 of the Best Quotations About War, Leadership, Courage, Victory, and Defeat (Hardcover)

When you need quotations on war, leadership, victory and defeat, beyond the standards offered on the internet (i.e., Winston Churchill, Mao, Patton), this is an excellent resource. Hundreds of quotes on topics that apply to life's traumas and dramas as much as the military. Includes philosophers and strategists like Sun Tsu, Andrew Carnegie, Ghandi, Themistocles and more. Here are a few examples--you judge:

I tell you, Wellington is a bad general, the English are bad soldiers; we will settle the matter by lunch time. (Bonaparte the morning of the Battle of Waterloo)

They were never defeated; they were only killed (the French Foreign Legion)

Elevate those guns a little lower (Andrew Jackson)

There never is a convenient place to fight a war when the other man starts it (Admiral Arleigh Burke)

It includes many categories (fear, originality of war, nuclear war, etc) as well as an index to organize quotees. If you're an action/thriller writer, this should be in your library.

4.0 out of 5 stars "If a country is worth living in,it is worth fighting for."...Manning Colee, May 3, 2010

By 

J. Guild (Toronto,Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Military Quotation Book, Revised and Expanded: More than 1,200 of the Best Quotations About War, Leadership, Courage, Victory, and Defeat (Hardcover)

I had just finished reading "The Executive's Quotation Book" by this same editor when I realized I had this other book of quotations ,also by him.I had rated it 3*,so I thought I should compare it with this one on Military Quotations.I found this one better,but still not a 5* book.
In the Introduction,the editor makes several points about the quotations chosen.The most significant point being that the reader will not always agree with all of the quotations.The editor has chosen a wide variety of quotes covering wildely different perspectives,all the way from pacifists to infamous warmongers.Some are from ancient times,some from the Bible,some from recent times,some from military leaders,some from politicis,as well as many other parts of society.One of the things he often does is pick quotes that are of opposing ideas,such as;
"If a country is worth living in,it is worth fighting for." ..Manning Coles
and
"War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys
the same reputation and prestige as the warrior does today."..JFK

Then,there are those quotations that have proven to be unbelievably wrong,such as;
"I tell you Wellington is a bad general,the English are bad soldiers;we will
settle the matter by lunch time." ..Napoleon Bonaparte,the morning of the
Battle of Waterloo.

Then there are are quotes that apply as much today as anytime in the
past,such as;
"A prisoner of war is a man who tries to kill you and fails,and then asks you
not to kill him." ..Winston Churchill

The reason I did not give this book 5*'s is that ,even though there are many excellent quotes,the reader will not be familiar with many of the people quoted,and the editor did not include anything about the person or the context of the quote.Also,while there is a copious amount of excellent illustrations,the editor does not give any reference to their origin or significence.

4.0 out of 5 stars GOOD SOURCE for QUOTES, October 16, 2009

By 

BBW at the beach "Junebug" (Virginia Beach, VA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Military Quotation Book, Revised and Expanded: More than 1,200 of the Best Quotations About War, Leadership, Courage, Victory, and Defeat (Hardcover)

Sent this PB to my son in Iraq. He enjoyed it. An easy, but interesting read.