--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To become an ace a fighter must have…" description: "\"To become an ace a fighter must have extraordinary eyesight, strength, and agility, a huntsman's eye, coolness in a pinch, calculated recklessness, a f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/jimmy-doolittle-33892_aces_to-become-an-ace-a-fighter-must-have-ext_1742381.jpg" --- # To become an ace a fighter must have extraordinary… ![“To become an ace a fighter must have extraordinary eyesight, strength, and agility, a huntsman's eye, coolness in a pinch, calculated recklessness, a full measure of courage and occasional luck!” quote by Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/jimmy-doolittle-33892_aces_to-become-an-ace-a-fighter-must-have-ext_1742381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/jimmy-doolittle-33892_aces_to-become-an-ace-a-fighter-must-have-ext_1742381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/jimmy-doolittle-33892_aces_to-become-an-ace-a-fighter-must-have-ext_1742381.jpg) > “To become an ace a fighter must have extraordinary eyesight, strength, and agility, a huntsman's eye, coolness in a pinch, calculated recklessness, a full measure of courage and occasional luck!” [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Exceptional pilots need keen perception, composure, daring, courage, and luck to excel in combat. **In simple terms:** Great pilots combine skill, calm, bravery, and luck. Key Takeaway Cultivate all these traits. Themes leadership skill courage luck performance Mood inspirational motivational Type advice psychological When to use this quote - pilot training - high‑stress professions - team leadership - competitive sports Key Concepts psychology of expertise risk management decision making Questions to Reflect On - How can training enhance calculated risk‑taking? - What role does composure play under pressure? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on luck may downplay training. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ace Fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ace-fighter-611598/) [Aces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aces/) [Agility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agility/) [Agility Huntsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agility-huntsman-1531656/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/) [Combat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combat/) [Coolness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coolness/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyesight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyesight/) [Fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighter/) [Fighter Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighter-extraordinary-1531654/) [Huntsman Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huntsman-eye-1531655/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Occasional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasional/) [Plane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plane/) [Recklessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recklessness/) ## Related quotes > [The closest modern equivalent to the Homeric hero is the ace fighter pilot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/the-closest-modern-equivalent-to-the-homeric-hero-is-the-ace-fighter/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The ordinary air fighter is an extraordinary man and the extraordinary air fighter stands as one in a million among his fellows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-ordinary-air-fighter-is-an-extraordinary-man-and-the/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It was a splendid population - for all the slow, sleepy, sluggish-brained sloths stayed at home - you never find that sort of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-was-a-splendid-population-for-all-the-slow-sleepy-sluggish-brained/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I do not set my life at a pin's fee, And for my soul, what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-do-not-set-my-life-at-a-pin-s-fee-and-for-my-soul-what-can-it-do-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“At last there is an unknown element back in my life. This is how it used to be. This is how I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/at-last-there-is-an-unknown-element-back-in-my-life-this-is-how-it/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [“Recklessness is almost a man's revenge on his woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/recklessness-is-almost-a-man-s-revenge-on-his-woman/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [Undressing her was an act of recklessness, a kind of vandalism, like releasing a zoo full of animals, or blowing up a dam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/undressing-her-was-an-act-of-recklessness-a-kind-of-vandalism-like/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [The man whom society will not forgive nor restore is driven into recklessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/the-man-whom-society-will-not-forgive-nor-restore-is-driven-into/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [Love of goodness without love of learning degenerates into simple-mindedness. Love of knowledge without love of learning degenerates into utter lack of principle. Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/love-of-goodness-without-love-of-learning-degenerates-into-simple/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A time of historic change is no time for recklessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/a-time-of-historic-change-is-no-time-for-recklessness/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/now-more-than-ever-the-people-are-responsible-for-the-character-of/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-asking-my-attorney-general-to-create-a-special-unit-of-federal/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“I'd felt the pop of the needle sliding into my veins, like a fang into flesh. I'd been enveloped in the golden haze where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-rhodes/i-d-felt-the-pop-of-the-needle-sliding-into-my-veins-like-a-fang-into/) [Taylor Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-rhodes/) > [Men outlive their love, but they don’t outlive the consequences of their recklessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/men-outlive-their-love-but-they-don-t-outlive-the-consequences-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [The thing that bothers me the most is the recklessness and greed of the local ranchers, who run too many cattle back here, choking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/the-thing-that-bothers-me-the-most-is-the-recklessness-and-greed-of/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) ## More by Jimmy Doolittle > [I have been luckier than the law of averages should allow. I could never be so lucky again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/i-have-been-luckier-than-the-law-of-averages-should-allow-i-could/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [“There's nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/there-s-nothing-stronger-than-the-heart-of-a-volunteer/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [Hitherto acceptable norms of human conduct do not apply. If the United States is to survive, long-standing American concepts of 'fair play' must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/hitherto-acceptable-norms-of-human-conduct-do-not-apply-if-the-united/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [Germany may have recovered a flying saucer as early as 1939](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/germany-may-have-recovered-a-flying-saucer-as-early-as-1939/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [I could never be so lucky again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/i-could-never-be-so-lucky-again/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [If we should have to fight, we should be prepared to do so from the neck up instead of from the neck down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/if-we-should-have-to-fight-we-should-be-prepared-to-do-so-from-the/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [Nothing is as strong as the heart of a volunteer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/nothing-is-as-strong-as-the-heart-of-a-volunteer/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [Just try to make the world a better place for your having been here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/just-try-to-make-the-world-a-better-place-for-your-having-been-here/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [The first lesson is that you can't lose a war if you have command of the air, and you can't win a war if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/the-first-lesson-is-that-you-can-t-lose-a-war-if-you-have-command-of/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [The country will some day pay for the stupidities of those who were in the majority on this commission. They know as much about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/the-country-will-some-day-pay-for-the-stupidities-of-those-who-were/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [Adolf Galland said that the day we took our fighters off the bombers and put them against the German fighters, that is, went from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/adolf-galland-said-that-the-day-we-took-our-fighters-off-the-bombers/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [I am not a very timid type. It's very important to some people, but not to me. I have a simple philosophy: worry about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/i-am-not-a-very-timid-type-it-s-very-important-to-some-people-but-not/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) > [The function and Navy in any future war will be to support the dominant air arm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/the-function-and-navy-in-any-future-war-will-be-to-support-the/) [Jimmy Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) [Explore all 14 Jimmy Doolittle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/) ## More Aces quotes > [Here's the point - and Jonah Goldberg reminds us of this. He wrote a blog post that was titled "The MacGuffinization of American Politics."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/here-s-the-point-and-jonah-goldberg-reminds-us-of-this-he-wrote-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-top-world-war-ii-ace-once-said-that-fighter-pilots-fall-into-two/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So I'm an ace?' Will grinned. 'I'm flattered Halt, flattered. I had no idea you regarded me so highly.' Halt gave him a long-suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/so-i-m-an-ace-will-grinned-i-m-flattered-halt-flattered-i-had-no-idea/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [ I'm definitely playing next year. That's my ace in the hole. It's a little hard to sit back and watch the guys \[this season\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tedy-bruschi/i-m-definitely-playing-next-year-that-s-my-ace-in-the-hole-it-s-a/) [Tedy Bruschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tedy-bruschi/) > [“I don't see you holdin no aces.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/i-don-t-see-you-holdin-no-aces/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [I'm tryin' to build myself bigger than just Ace Hood, I'm tryin' to build myself as a bigger brand - open up clothing lines,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-hood/i-m-tryin-to-build-myself-bigger-than-just-ace-hood-i-m-tryin-to/) [Ace Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-hood/) > [“That's right, kid. Never play an ace if a two will do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-smith/that-s-right-kid-never-play-an-ace-if-a-two-will-do/) [Jeff Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-smith/) > [Thanks for the memory Of lingerie with lace, Pilsner by the case And how I jumped the day you trumped my one-and-only ace How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-robin/thanks-for-the-memory-of-lingerie-with-lace-pilsner-by-the-case-and/) [Leo Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-robin/) > [I don't have this massive serve where I'm hitting 10 aces a match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pegula/i-don-t-have-this-massive-serve-where-i-m-hitting-10-aces-a-match/) [Jessica Pegula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pegula/) > [There's always a villain in every book, in every movie. In every story you have the hero and what he wants, and that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-always-a-villain-in-every-book-in-every-movie-in-every-story/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [My dresser and I have the hots for the new rugby ace Danny Cipriani. We have a shrine in my dressing room - press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-clary/my-dresser-and-i-have-the-hots-for-the-new-rugby-ace-danny-cipriani/) [Julian Clary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-clary/) > [My ace in the hole as a human being used to be my capacity for remembering birthdays. I worked at it. Whenever I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/my-ace-in-the-hole-as-a-human-being-used-to-be-my-capacity-for/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [There are two thoughts that will ensure success in all you do; (1) Don't tell everything you know, and (2) until Ace Ventura, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/there-are-two-thoughts-that-will-ensure-success-in-all-you-do-1-don-t/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [ Behold me waiting—waiting for the knife… The thick, sweet mystery of chloroform, The drunken dark, the little death-in-life… \[F\]ace to face with chance, I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ernest-henley/behold-me-waiting-waiting-for-the-knife-the-thick-sweet-mystery-of/) [William Ernest Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ernest-henley/) > [I mean maybe I was holding all the aces, but what was the game?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-mean-maybe-i-was-holding-all-the-aces-but-what-was-the-game/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) [Browse all 104 Aces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To become an ace a fighter must have extraordinary eyesight, strength, and agility, a huntsman's eye, coolness in a pinch, calculated recklessness, a full measure of courage and occasional luck!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jimmy Doolittle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/to-become-an-ace-a-fighter-must-have-extraordinary-eyesight-strength/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aces" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/to-become-an-ace-a-fighter-must-have-extraordinary-eyesight-strength/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/jimmy-doolittle-33892_aces_to-become-an-ace-a-fighter-must-have-ext_1742381.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/jimmy-doolittle-33892_aces_to-become-an-ace-a-fighter-must-have-ext_1742381.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/jimmy-doolittle-33892_aces_to-become-an-ace-a-fighter-must-have-ext_1742381.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To become an ace a fighter must have extraordinary eyesight, strength, and agility, a huntsman's eye…” — Jimmy Doolittle", "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": "Jimmy Doolittle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-doolittle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To become an ace a fighter...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/to-become-an-ace-a-fighter-must-have-extraordinary-eyesight-strength/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-doolittle/to-become-an-ace-a-fighter-must-have-extraordinary-eyesight-strength/#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 } } ] } ```