Americans and other world leaders have given us wise and witty military appreciation quotes since long before Military Appreciation Month was officially designated in 1999. These quotes help us put into words our feelings about our troops and what their service means to our nation.
May was chosen as Military Appreciation Month because it includes many military celebrations and commemorations, such as Armed Forces Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Victory in Europe Day and, most importantly, Memorial Day.
Visit our Pinterest page for more military inspiration.
Military Appreciation Quotes
"There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer." -- Gen. James H. Doolittle
"No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation." -- Gen. Douglas MacArthur
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." -- John Quincy Adams
"This will remain the land of the free so long as it is the home of the brave." -- Elmer Davis
"When the will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death -- that is heroism." -- Robert Green Ingersoll
"Word to the Nation: Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to guard." -- President John F. Kennedy
"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his." -- Gen. George S. Patton
"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks." -- James Allen
"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." -- Joseph Campbell
"The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men." -- Minot J. Savage
"We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us." -- Winston S. Churchill
"America without her Soldiers would be like God without His angels." -- Claudia Pemberton
"War is too important to be left to the generals" -- Georges Clémenceau
"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight -- it's the size of the fight in the dog." -- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
"For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?" -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The patriot's blood is the seed of freedom's tree." -- Thomas Campbell
"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." -- Nathan Hale
"America is hope. It is compassion. It is excellence. It is valor." -- Paul Tsongas
"These fallen heroes represent the character of a nation who has a long history of patriotism and honor -- and a nation who has fought many battles to keep our country free from threats of terror." -- Michael N. Castle
"True patriotism isn't cheap. It's about taking on a fair share of the burden of keeping America going." -- Robert Reich
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." -- Winston Churchill, 1940
Stay Up-to-Date With Military Discounts
Want the scoop on military discounts? From travel to phones and everything in between, troops, military families and veterans can stay on top of military discounts. Sign up for a free Military.com membership to get full access.
