"Like the old soldier of the ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Goodbye"
- Douglas MacArthur
About this Quote
This quote by Douglas MacArthur is a reflection on his military profession and his retirement. He compares himself to an old soldier in a ballad, suggesting that he is now at the end of his profession and is ready to proceed. He acknowledges that he has done his best to fulfill his duty as he saw it, and that he is now prepared to "vanish". The quote is a modest and reflective farewell to his military profession, and a recognition of the importance of task and service. It is a reminder that even in retirement, the legacy of a soldier's service will remain. MacArthur's words are a testimony to the devotion and dedication of those who serve in the military, and a pointer of the importance of responsibility and service.
"Diplomats are just as essential to starting a war as soldiers are for finishing it... You take diplomacy out of war, and the thing would fall flat in a week"
"After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. I sure as hell wouldn't want to live in a society where the only people allowed guns are the police and the military"
"We shall listen, not lecture; learn, not threaten. We will enhance our safety by earning the respect of others and showing respect for them. In short, our foreign policy will rest on the traditional American values of restraint and empathy, not on military might"