Phil Ward > Quotes

“Thinking a situation through to the end and then going forward with the best available option—which is not always a great option—that’s the art of military decision-making at the Operational and Tactical level. Being able to select the best choice from a list of bad options when exigent circumstances force the issue is what separates the brilliant commander from the merely highly talented. Improvise, adapt, overcome and outsmart.”
― Phil Ward, Economy of Force

“Red and yellow, kill a fellow”
― Phil Ward, Those Who Dare

“Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.”
― Phil Ward, Military Deception

“There was a lot to be said for one-way dialogue with women, Maj. Randal decided. Conversation was a snap, you never had to worry about petty melodrama, there was no getting tongue-tied and you never felt stupid.”
― Phil Ward, Roman Candle

“first rule of deception: “The purpose of the exercise is not to make the enemy believe something—the goal is to make them do something.”
― Phil Ward, Guerilla Command

“a holocaust’.”
― Phil Ward, Those Who Dare

“brave men were actually the ones who were afraid, admitted their fear, fought it, and overcame it. Fearless men were not actually brave; they were merely fearless, and possibly stupid”
― Phil Ward, Those Who Dare

“put an examination point”
― Phil Ward, Private Army

“It won’t matter to the enemy whether you beat him by guile or valor.’ ”
― Phil Ward, Roman Candle

“if a trooper was on time to a formation, he was five minutes late.”
― Phil Ward, Those Who Dare

“core principles”
― Phil Ward, Military Deception