"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion." - Gen. William Thornson, U.S. Army

“They say ‘you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink.’ In the Marine Corps, you make that horse wish to hell he had.” ~ USMC Drill Instructor

"The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines. Lord, how they could fight!" ~ MGen Frank E. Lowe, USA; Korea, 26 January 1952

"I come in peace, I didn't bring artillery. But I am pleading with you with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all."  ~ Marine General James Mattis, to Iraqi tribal leaders

"You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth- and the amusing thing about it is that they are." ~ Father Kevin Keaney |1st Marine Division Chaplain

"They told (us) to open up the Embassy, or "we'll blow you away." And then they looked up and saw the Marines on the roof with these really big guns, and they said in Somali, "Igaralli ahow" which means "Excuse me, I didn't mean it, my mistake"." ~ Karen Aquilar, in the U.S. Embassy; Mogadishu, Somalia, 1991

“We found a water pipe, tied the flag to it and put it up. Then all hell broke loose below. Troops cheered, ships blew whistles, some men openly wept.”  ~ Cpl. Charles Lindbergh, flag raising on Iwo Jima

“We go forward with our heads held high, but look back and remember where we come from.” ~ Col. Michael Hudson | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit

"Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary." ~ Gen. A. M. Gray, USMC - Commandant of the Marine Corps

"A Marine on duty has no friends." ~ Marine Corps proverb