"We are United States Marines, and for two and a quarter centuries we have defined the standards of courage, esprit, and military prowess." ~ Gen. James L. Jones, USMC (CMC); 10 November 2000

“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 United States Marine Corps, with its fiercely proud tradition of excellence in combat, its hallowed rituals, and its unbending code of honor, is part of the fabric of American myth. " ~ Thomas E. Ricks; Making the Corps, 1997

"I love the Corps for those intangible possessions that cannot be issued: pride, honor, integrity, and being able to carry on the traditions for generations of warriors past." ~ Cpl. Jeff Sornig, USMC; in Navy Times, November 1994

"I have only two men out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." ~ 1stLt. Clifton B. Cates, USMC - in Belleau Wood, 19 July 1918

"Retreat, hell we just got here!" ~ Captain Lloyd Williams, USMC at the Battle of Belleau Wood WWI

"There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and those who have met them in battle. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion." - Unknown

“One hundred and twenty Marines were detailed to officer a force of twenty-six hundred Haitians.” ~ Maj. Smedley D. Butler, Haiti, 1915

"I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world!" ~ General Douglas MacArthur, US Army

"We're not retreating, Hell! We're just attacking in a different direction!" — Gen. Oliver Smith | USMC