--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why do soldiers fight? They join because…" description: "\"Why do soldiers fight? They join because they believe in a higher cause -- protecting religion, their nation, defending against a foreign nation. But w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/peter-r-mansoor-34309_believe_why-do-soldiers-fight-they-join-because_756948.jpg" --- # Why do soldiers fight? They join because they believe in a… ![“Why do soldiers fight? They join because they believe in a higher cause -- protecting religion, their nation, defending against a foreign nation. But why do soldier stay and fight? Soldiers aren't individuals. They are part of a unit. And that unit is led by a commander. If they don't trust their…” quote by Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/peter-r-mansoor-34309_believe_why-do-soldiers-fight-they-join-because_756948.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/peter-r-mansoor-34309_believe_why-do-soldiers-fight-they-join-because_756948.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/peter-r-mansoor-34309_believe_why-do-soldiers-fight-they-join-because_756948.jpg) > “Why do soldiers fight? They join because they believe in a higher cause -- protecting religion, their nation, defending against a foreign nation. But why do soldier stay and fight? Soldiers aren't individuals. They are part of a unit. And that unit is led by a commander. If they don't trust their commander ... if there is no leadership, there is nothing.” [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Soldiers fight due to belief in higher causes; unit cohesion and trusted leadership are essential, otherwise morale collapses. **In simple terms:** Leadership and trust keep soldiers fighting. Key Takeaway Foster strong, trustworthy leadership in teams. Themes leadership trust cohesion motivation military Mood serious reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - military units - corporate teams - sports squads - emergency response groups Key Concepts organizational behavior group dynamics psychology of combat Questions to Reflect On - What builds trust in a commander? - How does unit identity affect perseverance? A Different Perspective Leadership failures can demoralize even dedicated individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Commanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/) [Don't trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-trust/) [Fight Soldiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-soldiers-5877745/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Soldier Stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier-stay-2500795/) [Soldiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldiers/) [Soldiers Aren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldiers-aren-5877746/) [Units](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/units/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s important for little girls to know not every story has to be a love story and for boys to know that soldiers aren’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/it-s-important-for-little-girls-to-know-not-every-story-has-to-be-a/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [When you join the army, you are asked to lay down your life for your country. That is a tremendous oath to take. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-winter/when-you-join-the-army-you-are-asked-to-lay-down-your-life-for-your/) [Michael Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-winter/) > [ What concerned me was that \[James Mattis\] played not only a critical role as a battlefield commander in Fallujah, but also, afterwards, when he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/what-concerned-me-was-that-james-mattis-played-not-only-a-critical/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [ Following is one of the most underrated aspects of leadership… I have seen many a good \[military unit\] underachieve, because someone...thought the commander was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/following-is-one-of-the-most-underrated-aspects-of-leadership-i-have/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [I've only ever trusted my gut on everything. I don't trust my head, I don't trust my heart, I trust my gut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-adams/i-ve-only-ever-trusted-my-gut-on-everything-i-don-t-trust-my-head-i/) [Bryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-adams/) > [You're just a silly little Whitehall twit: you don't trust me and I don't trust you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-philip/you-re-just-a-silly-little-whitehall-twit-you-don-t-trust-me-and-i/) [Prince Philip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-philip/) > [When I see someone with an immaculate sketchbook, I don't trust that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kody-chamberlain/when-i-see-someone-with-an-immaculate-sketchbook-i-don-t-trust-that/) [Kody Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kody-chamberlain/) > [Don't cry upon you losses Don't mesure today with tommorows Don't trust to passed and coming day Believe in now - and be happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/don-t-cry-upon-you-losses-don-t-mesure-today-with-tommorows-don-t/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [When you ask me to sign your NDA, you're basically saying, in writing, that you don't trust me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-dash/when-you-ask-me-to-sign-your-nda-you-re-basically-saying-in-writing/) [Anil Dash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-dash/) > [I don't trust a girl who doesn't have any girlfriends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/i-don-t-trust-a-girl-who-doesn-t-have-any-girlfriends/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [I don't trust anyone who hasn't been self-destructiv e in some way, and who hasn't gone through some sort of bout of self-loathing. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-don-t-trust-anyone-who-hasn-t-been-self-destructiv-e-in-some-way/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [On investments, 1998: Where I'm from we don't trust paper. Wealth is what's here on the premises. If I open a cupboard and see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/on-investments-1998-where-i-m-from-we-don-t-trust-paper-wealth-is/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I don't trust art that promises a 24-hour joyride. In fact, there seems to be a modern sense of entitlement for such constant "ups,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ware/i-don-t-trust-art-that-promises-a-24-hour-joyride-in-fact-there-seems/) [Chris Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-ware/) > [A single woman should only marry a man she can follow: Ladies if you are single, be very, very careful who you date and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/a-single-woman-should-only-marry-a-man-she-can-follow-ladies-if-you/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“Murray said, 'I don't trust anybody's nostalgia but my own. Nostalgia is a product of dissatisfaction and rage. It´s a settling of grievances between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/murray-said-i-don-t-trust-anybody-s-nostalgia-but-my-own-nostalgia-is/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) ## More by Peter R. Mansoor > [I think this does show that there will be some changes, not so much in Europe or Asia but certainly in the Middle East.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/i-think-this-does-show-that-there-will-be-some-changes-not-so-much-in/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [ Given this president \[Donald Trump\] and his lack of military experience, I think it actually might be a good thing to have someone who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/given-this-president-donald-trump-and-his-lack-of-military-experience/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [ So in his very politically-incorrect way, I think \[James Mattis\] is a good counterpart to Donald Trump, who doesn't read books. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/so-in-his-very-politically-incorrect-way-i-think-james-mattis-is-a/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [ \[ General James Mattis\] is a Marine's Marine who has served in combat in both Afghanistan and Iraq. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/general-james-mattis-is-a-marine-s-marine-who-has-served-in-combat-in/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [ \[General James Mattis\] a very talented individual. He's - has a personal library of about 10,000 books and he's read most of them on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/general-james-mattis-a-very-talented-individual-he-s-has-a-personal/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [ General \[James\] Mattis has said that the deal's in place. We can't unilaterally pull out of it without support from our allies because the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/general-james-mattis-has-said-that-the-deal-s-in-place-we-can-t/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [ General \[James\] Mattis has got a really intellectual mindset about how the United States should go about protecting its national security. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/general-james-mattis-has-got-a-really-intellectual-mindset-about-how/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [Certainly, we shouldn't go about making a habit of taking generals and making them secretary of defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/certainly-we-shouldn-t-go-about-making-a-habit-of-taking-generals-and/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [Michele Flournoy, by the way, is not just a talented and bright person. She was Hillary Clinton's secretary of defense in-waiting. So for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/michele-flournoy-by-the-way-is-not-just-a-talented-and-bright-person/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [ I think that you will see some significant changes in the \[Donald\] Trump administration. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/i-think-that-you-will-see-some-significant-changes-in-the-donald/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [ t I think what \[James Mattis\] will do with the deal is monitor it very, very carefully and make sure that Iran is complying… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/t-i-think-what-james-mattis-will-do-with-the-deal-is-monitor-it-very/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [ \[General James Mattis\] said, reading allows you to learn from other people's mistakes without filling body bags with the bodies of your soldiers as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/general-james-mattis-said-reading-allows-you-to-learn-from-other/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [Iran has proxies in Yemen, Syria, Iraq. You can push back against Iran without pulling out of the deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/iran-has-proxies-in-yemen-syria-iraq-you-can-push-back-against-iran/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) [Explore all 14 Peter R. Mansoor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. 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Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why do soldiers fight? They join because they believe in a higher cause -- protecting religion, their nation, defending against a foreign nation. But why do soldier stay and fight? Soldiers aren't individuals. They are part of a unit. And that unit is led by a commander. If they don't trust their commander ... if there is no leadership, there is nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter R. 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