Thought of the day by General George S Patton: ‘Courage is fear holding on a minute longer’

Thought of the day: General George S. Patton Jr. was one of the most influential and outspoken military commanders of the United States Army during World War II, known for his emphasis on courage, discipline and decisive action in combat.

Patton played a key role in several major Allied campaigns, including the invasion of Sicily in 1943 and the rapid advance of the US Third Army across France following the Normandy landings. He is also remembered for his swift manoeuvre during the Battle of the Bulge, when his forces relieved besieged Allied troops at Bastogne, a move widely regarded as a defining moment of operational leadership.

Beyond the battlefield, Patton’s views on courage and mental resilience continue to be cited in leadership and motivational contexts. One of his most enduring thoughts reflects his belief that bravery is not the absence of fear but the ability to persist despite it.


“Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.”

The thought underscores Patton’s conviction that overcoming hesitation and internal restraint is often the key to success, whether in warfare or in broader challenges requiring resolve and confidence.

Most famous battles and campaigns

Patton is best remembered for his leadership in several key World War II campaigns:

• Invasion of Sicily (1943): As commander of the US Seventh Army, Patton led rapid advances that helped secure the island from Axis forces.
  
  
• Normandy breakout (1944): After D-Day, Patton’s Third Army spearheaded the breakout from Normandy, racing across France.
  
  
• Battle of the Bulge (1944–45): Patton executed a rapid troop pivot to relieve besieged Allied forces at Bastogne, a manoeuvre considered one of the war’s most remarkable operational feats.
  
  
• Advance into Germany (1945): His forces crossed the Rhine River and advanced deep into German territory, accelerating the collapse of Nazi resistance.
  
  

20 notable quotes by General George S. Patton

• “Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.”
• “Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.”
• “Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.”
• “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.”
• “Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
• “If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.”
• “Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.”
• “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived.”
• “Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men.”
• “The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers.”
• “Do everything you ask of those you command.”
• “Pressure makes diamonds.”
• “A pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood.”
• “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.”
• “There is no such thing as a good defense.”
• “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”
• “You need to overcome the tug of people against you as you reach for high goals.”
• “Never make excuses, whether it’s your fault or not.”
• “Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential.”
• “Moral courage is harder than physical courage.”