---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The soldier is the army."
description: "\"The soldier is the army.\" — George S. Patton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/george-s-patton-1770_army_the-soldier-is-the-army-1393931_1393931.jpg"
---

#  The soldier is the army.

![“The soldier is the army.” quote by George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/george-s-patton-1770_army_the-soldier-is-the-army-1393931_1393931.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/george-s-patton-1770_army_the-soldier-is-the-army-1393931_1393931.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/george-s-patton-1770_army_the-soldier-is-the-army-1393931_1393931.jpg)

> “The soldier is the army.”

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The soldier embodies the army itself, representing its collective strength.

**In simple terms:** A soldier is the whole army in one.

Key Takeaway

Recognize each individual's role in the larger force.

Themes

leadership military unity identity responsibility

Mood

disciplined determined

Type

motivational strategic

When to use this quote

- training drills
- team building
- strategic planning
- morale boosting

Key Concepts

collective identity military ethos

Questions to Reflect On

- In what ways does each soldier shape the army?
- How does this view affect morale?

A Different Perspective

Overlooks individual differences and personal agency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Soldier Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier-army-417878/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [It is the soldier and the army, not parliamentary majorities and decisions, that have welded the German Empire together. I put my trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ii/it-is-the-soldier-and-the-army-not-parliamentary-majorities-and/)

[Wilhelm II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ii/)

> [A nation fights well in proportion to the amount of men and materials it has. And the other equation is that the individual soldier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/a-nation-fights-well-in-proportion-to-the-amount-of-men-and-materials/)

[Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/)

> [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/)

[William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/)

> [The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-soldier-is-the-army-no-army-is-better-than-its-soldiers-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm just a living witness that you can be an imperfect soldier and still be in the army fighting for God Almighty. Don't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/i-m-just-a-living-witness-that-you-can-be-an-imperfect-soldier-and/)

[Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/)

> [I, serial number 30743, Major General Yitzhak Rabin, am a soldier in the army of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/i-serial-number-30743-major-general-yitzhak-rabin-am-a-soldier-in-the/)

[Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/)

> [It seems as if everybody in the country was getting impatient to get his or her particular soldier out of the Army and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/it-seems-as-if-everybody-in-the-country-was-getting-impatient-to-get/)

[Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/)

> [“You can take the soldier out of the army, but you will NEVER take the army out of the soldier”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-take-the-soldier-out-of-the-army-but-you-will-never-take-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The military mind is indeed a menace. Old-fashioned futurity that sees only men fighting and dying in smoke and fire; hears nothing more civilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-casey/the-military-mind-is-indeed-a-menace-old-fashioned-futurity-that-sees/)

[Sean O'Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-casey/)

> [America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/america-loves-a-winner-and-will-not-tolerate-a-loser-this-is-why/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [ \['Dad's Army' show\]was a military thing but also very funny, so it's kind of the two things that I experienced by being a soldier,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-darby/dad-s-army-show-was-a-military-thing-but-also-very-funny-so-it-s-kind/)

[Rhys Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-darby/)

> [When we think of war, the tendency is to picture young soldiers only in their military roles. To a large extent this dehumanizes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dean-myers/when-we-think-of-war-the-tendency-is-to-picture-young-soldiers-only/)

[Walter Dean Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dean-myers/)

> [As a soldier and combat veteran, I believe American military forces should only be used in the defense and furtherance of our nation's vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-ernst/as-a-soldier-and-combat-veteran-i-believe-american-military-forces/)

[Joni Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-ernst/)

> [Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/wars-may-be-fought-with-weapons-but-they-are-won-by-men-it-is-the/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

## More by George S. Patton

> [Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/wars-may-be-fought-with-weapons-but-they-are-won-by-men-it-is-the/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/america-loves-a-winner-and-will-not-tolerate-a-loser-this-is-why/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [We must guard against becoming so engrossed in the specific nature of the roots and bark of the trees of knowledge as to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/we-must-guard-against-becoming-so-engrossed-in-the-specific-nature-of/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [Successful generals make plans to fit circumstances, but do not try to create circumstances to fit plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/successful-generals-make-plans-to-fit-circumstances-but-do-not-try-to/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [There is a time to take counsel of your fears, and there is a time to never listen to any fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/there-is-a-time-to-take-counsel-of-your-fears-and-there-is-a-time-to/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/watch-what-people-are-cynical-about-and-one-can-often-discover-what/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [In the space of two days I had evolved two plans, wholly distinct, both of which were equally feasible. The point I am trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/in-the-space-of-two-days-i-had-evolved-two-plans-wholly-distinct-both/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [The leader must be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-leader-must-be-an-actor/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [Most battles are won before they are ever fought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/most-battles-are-won-before-they-are-ever-fought/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/discipline-must-be-a-habit-so-ingrained-that-it-is-stronger-than-the/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [Battle... brings out all that is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/battle-brings-out-all-that-is-best/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [Sure, we want to go home. We want this war over with. The quickest way to get it over with is to go get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/sure-we-want-to-go-home-we-want-this-war-over-with-the-quickest-way/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That's the time to listen to every fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-time-to-take-counsel-of-your-fears-is-before-you-make-an/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/a-man-must-know-his-destiny-if-he-does-not-recognize-it-then-he-is/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/urge-all-of-your-men-to-pray-not-alone-in-church-but-everywhere-pray/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

[Explore all 208 George S. Patton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

## More Army quotes

> [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

> [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/)

[Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/)

> [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/)

[Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/)

> [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/)

[James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

> [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/)

[Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/)

> [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/)

[William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/)

> [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/)

[Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/)

> [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/)

[Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/)

> [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/)

[William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/)

> [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/)

[Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/)

[Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The soldier is the army.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George S. Patton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-soldier-is-the-army/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Army"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-soldier-is-the-army/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/george-s-patton-1770_army_the-soldier-is-the-army-1393931_1393931.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/george-s-patton-1770_army_the-soldier-is-the-army-1393931_1393931.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/george-s-patton-1770_army_the-soldier-is-the-army-1393931_1393931.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The soldier is the army.” — George S. Patton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "George S. Patton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The soldier is the army.",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-soldier-is-the-army/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-soldier-is-the-army/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
