“The military career of most of the people who aimed these accusations at us was notable for a consistent absence from the front, on the principle of "weit vom Schuss gibt alte Kreiger" - "far from the battle makes old soldiers."”

—  Erwin Rommel

Ch XV : Alamein in Retrospect, p. 327.
The Rommel Papers (1953)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Dec. 19, 2024. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "The military career of most of the people who aimed these accusations at us was notable for a consistent absence from t…" by Erwin Rommel?
Erwin Rommel photo
Erwin Rommel 24
German field marshal of World War II 1891–1944

Related quotes

Daniel O'Connell photo

“No man was ever a good soldier but the man who goes into the battle determined to conquer, or not to come back from the battle field (cheers). No other principle makes a good soldier.”

Daniel O'Connell (1775–1847) Irish political leader

O’Connell recalling the spirited conduct of the Irish soldiers in Wellington’s army, at the Monster meeting held at Mullaghmast. Envoi, Taking Leave of Roy Foster, by Brendan Clifford and Julianne Herlihy, Aubane Historical Society, Cork.pg 16

Douglas MacArthur photo

“I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that "old soldiers never die; they just fade away."
And like the old soldier of that 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.”

Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) U.S. Army general of the army, field marshal of the Army of the Philippines

Audio clip (ogg format)
1950s, Farewell address to Congress (1951)
Context: I am closing my 52 years of military service. When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that "old soldiers never die; they just fade away."
And like the old soldier of that 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.

Douglas MacArthur photo
Arthur Ponsonby photo
Lev Mekhlis photo
Mark Hertling photo
E. M. S. Namboodiripad photo
Martin Sheen photo

“I have been accused of being a traitor, and I have been accused of not supporting the military. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Martin Sheen (1940) American actor

2000s, Progressive magazine interview (2003)
Context: I have been accused of being a traitor, and I have been accused of not supporting the military. Nothing could be further from the truth. The leaders are the ones who make the decisions. The soldiers do not have the choice. I support the soldiers as human beings. This Administration has led us into an area without vision. Bush has no clear understanding of what is being asked of the citizens, and the military is under his direction.

H.L. Mencken photo
Milan Kundera photo

Related topics