Patton

Patton: What's the matter with you? Bennet: I, I guess I just can't take it sir. Patton: What did you say? Bennet: It's my nerves sir. I, I, I just can't stand the shelling anymore. [starts sobbing] Patton: Your nerves? Why, hell, you are just a goddamned coward. [stands and slaps Bennet's helmet with his gloves] Shut up. I won't have a yellow bastard sitting here crying, in front of these brave men who have been wounded in battle. [Bennet continues to sob] SHUT UP! [strikes the man again, knocking his helmet liner off; he turns to the admitting officer and yells] Don't admit this yellow bastard. There's nothing wrong with him! I won't have sons-of-bitches-bastards who are afraid to fight stinking up this place of honor! [Turns back to Bennet] You're going back to the front, my friend. You may get shot and you may get killed, but you're going up to the fighting. Either that or I stand you up in front of a firing squad. I [grabs for his pistol] ought to shoot you myself, you goddamned l

Patton (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Bradley: You wanted to see me, George? Patton: Got a letter here from Ike. [hands letter to Bradley] I, ah, was re-reading Caesar's Commentaries last night. In battle Caesar wore a red robe to distinguish him from his men. I, ah, was struck by that fact, because... [pause] "Despicable" — that's the first time in my life anyone ever applied that word to me. Bradley: Well, ah, at least it's a personal reprimand. It's not official. Patton: The man was yellow, he should have been tried for cowardice and shot. My God, have they forgotten about all of the people who have taken a hell of a lot worse than a little kick in the pants? I ruffled his pride a little bit. What's that compared to war? Two weeks ago when we took Palermo they called me a hero, said I was the greatest general since Stonewall Jackson. Bradley: And now they draw cartoons about you. [Bradley looks at newspaper cartoon] Patton: Dirty bastard. They got me holding a little G.I. there and kicking him with an iron boot. Do you

Patton (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Patton: If you won't let me kill the enemy, why did you pick me to command? Bradley: I didn't pick you! Ike picked you. George, you have performed brilliantly. You are loyal, dedicated — you're one of the best field commanders I've got — but you don't know when to shut up, George! You’re a pain in the neck. Patton: I have a lot of faults Brad, but ingratitude isn't one of them. I owe you a lot. Hell, I know I'm a prima donna — I admit it! What I can't stand about Monty is he won't admit it.

Patton (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Patton: [kneeling down beside the wounded officer] Were you in command here, captain? Tank Commander: I was in command. My tank platoon was supporting an infantry company. The tanks ran out of gas, so we had to fight it out. We started at eleven o'clock last night. Finished a couple hours ago. This morning, the fighting was hand-to-hand.

Patton (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Patton: I trained these men. They'll do what I tell them to do. British officer: Perhaps we hadn't realized you were quite so popular with your troops, General. Patton: I'm not. They'll do it because they're good soldiers. And because they realize like I do, that we could still lose this war. British officer: Well, I think I can speak for Field Marshall Montgomery — he'd say you're asking the impossible of your men. Patton: Of course he would. Because he's never realized that's what we're in business for.

Patton (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Colonel Gaston Bell: General McAuliffe refused a German surrender demand. You know what he said? Patton: What? Bell: "Nuts!" Patton: [laughing] Keep them moving, Colonel. A man that eloquent has to be saved.

Patton (film), CC BY-SA 4.0