---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the CO came in. I made a move. “At ease,”…"
description: "\"“the CO came in. I made a move. “At ease,” he said. “Basilone, you are a bastard breaker of hearts and killer of men. Am I right?”\" — Jim Proser"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/jim-proser-38118_killer_the-co-came-in-i-made-a-move-at-ease-he_534486.jpg"
---

#  the CO came in. I made a move. “At ease,” he said…

![“the CO came in. I made a move. “At ease,” he said. “Basilone, you are a bastard breaker of hearts and killer of men. Am I right?” quote by Jim Proser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/jim-proser-38118_killer_the-co-came-in-i-made-a-move-at-ease-he_534486.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/jim-proser-38118_killer_the-co-came-in-i-made-a-move-at-ease-he_534486.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/jim-proser-38118_killer_the-co-came-in-i-made-a-move-at-ease-he_534486.jpg)

> ““the CO came in. I made a move. “At ease,” he said. “Basilone, you are a bastard breaker of hearts and killer of men. Am I right?””

[Jim Proser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-proser/)

## About This Quote

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

A commanding officer uses humor and bravado to bond with a soldier, mixing affection with teasing.

**In simple terms:** A leader jokes to connect.

Key Takeaway

Use humor to build rapport.

Themes

leadership military humor

Mood

lighthearted casual

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- boot camp
- team meetings
- stress relief
- peer mentorship

Key Concepts

bonding teasing authority morale

Questions to Reflect On

- When is teasing appropriate in leadership?
- How does humor affect morale?

A Different Perspective

Humor can undermine seriousness.

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Browse all 506 Killer quotes

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