--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If Marines told to obey their officer…" description: "\"“If Marines told to obey their officer suspect for a second that the officer would avoid the truth or not take responsibility for their actions, simply..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f2/simon-sinek-349_marine_if-marines-told-to-obey-their-officer-su_1412262.png" --- # If Marines told to obey their officer suspect for a second… ![“If Marines told to obey their officer suspect for a second that the officer would avoid the truth or not take responsibility for their actions, simply to cover their own tail or make themselves look better, then the Circle of Safety shrinks and the entire fabric and efficacy of the group of…” quote by Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f2/simon-sinek-349_marine_if-marines-told-to-obey-their-officer-su_1412262.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f2/simon-sinek-349_marine_if-marines-told-to-obey-their-officer-su_1412262.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f2/simon-sinek-349_marine_if-marines-told-to-obey-their-officer-su_1412262.png) > ““If Marines told to obey their officer suspect for a second that the officer would avoid the truth or not take responsibility for their actions, simply to cover their own tail or make themselves look better, then the Circle of Safety shrinks and the entire fabric and efficacy of the group of Marines decays. The Marines are as good as they are not simply because they are big, strong and fearless. They are also good at what they do because they trust each other and believe, without a doubt, that the Marine to the left of them and the Marine to the right of them, regardless of rank, will do what needs to be done. This is the reason Marines are so effective as a group.”” [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective teamwork relies on mutual trust and accountability; when leaders hide truth, trust erodes and group performance declines. **In simple terms:** Trust and accountability are essential for strong teams. Key Takeaway Build transparent, trustworthy leadership. Themes leadership trust teamwork Mood serious motivational Type leadership inspirational When to use this quote - military units - corporate teams - project groups Key Concepts Organizational behavior psychology Questions to Reflect On - What actions build trust in your team? - How do you handle broken trust? A Different Perspective Trust can be fragile and easily broken by deception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Marines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marines/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Marines are very good at fighting... And if Gen. Franks wants fighters on the ground and he puts Marines in, he'll have what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-pace/marines-are-very-good-at-fighting-and-if-gen-franks-wants-fighters-on/) [Peter Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-pace/) > [“A fellow NCO in the Marines once told me that his priorities were the following: provider, parent, spouse, and change agent. In that order.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/a-fellow-nco-in-the-marines-once-told-me-that-his-priorities-were-the/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [As Marines, it's drilled into us... to take care of fellow Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/as-marines-it-s-drilled-into-us-to-take-care-of-fellow-marines/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [The Marine Corps taught me that I could achieve my goals. In short, the Marines made me believe in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-alan-williams/the-marine-corps-taught-me-that-i-could-achieve-my-goals-in-short-the/) Gregory Alan Williams > [My mom was the poster girl for the Marines. So she was in the poster saying, "I want you." My parents were both Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/my-mom-was-the-poster-girl-for-the-marines-so-she-was-in-the-poster/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [Marines have a cynical approach to war. They believe in three things; liberty, payday and that when two Marines are together in a fight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/marines-have-a-cynical-approach-to-war-they-believe-in-three-things/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [I went in the Marines when I was 16. I spent four and a half years in the Marines and then came right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-hackman/i-went-in-the-marines-when-i-was-16-i-spent-four-and-a-half-years-in/) [Gene Hackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-hackman/) > [“All they expect from you is your best effort. These Marines think that they are special. 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U.N. and O.A.S., They have their place, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/when-someone-makes-a-move-of-which-we-don-t-approve-who-is-it-that/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [We didn't see what happen when Marines fired M-16s... We didn't see what happened after mortars landed, only the puff of smoke. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-banfield/we-didn-t-see-what-happen-when-marines-fired-m-16s-we-didn-t-see-what/) [Ashleigh Banfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-banfield/) > [My dad was a Marine. He was one of the Montford Point Marines. Those are the equivalent of the Tuskegee Airmen for Marines. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-elder/my-dad-was-a-marine-he-was-one-of-the-montford-point-marines-those/) [Larry Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-elder/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by Simon Sinek > [Notoriously outspoken, his sentences always punctuated with profanities, General George S. Patton was the epitome of what a leader should be like - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/notoriously-outspoken-his-sentences-always-punctuated-with/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“When you are with Marines gathering to eat, you will notice that the most junior are served first and the most senior are served…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-you-are-with-marines-gathering-to-eat-you-will-notice-that-the/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [A parent does not do everything for their kid. A parent that does everything for their kid produces a kid with no self-confidence. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/a-parent-does-not-do-everything-for-their-kid-a-parent-that-does/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Don't wait for perfection before you start. Start somewhere so you can have something tangible you can work to perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/don-t-wait-for-perfection-before-you-start-start-somewhere-so-you-can/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Followers want to be taken care of. Leaders want to take care of others. We can all be leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/followers-want-to-be-taken-care-of-leaders-want-to-take-care-of/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“Goethe, the great nineteenth-century thinker, reportedly summed up, “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/goethe-the-great-nineteenth-century-thinker-reportedly-summed-up-you/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Pursue the thing inside us and others will help us. Pursue the things outside us and others will compete with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/pursue-the-thing-inside-us-and-others-will-help-us-pursue-the-things/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“When a WHY goes fuzzy, it becomes much more difficult to maintain the growth, loyalty and inspiration that helped drive the original success. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-a-why-goes-fuzzy-it-becomes-much-more-difficult-to-maintain-the/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“Without the protection of our leaders, everyone outside the inner circle is forced to work alone or in small tribes to protect and advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/without-the-protection-of-our-leaders-everyone-outside-the-inner/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Any great and inspiring leader or organization that ever existed set out to do something completely unrealistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/any-great-and-inspiring-leader-or-organization-that-ever-existed-set/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [I try to find, celebrate and teach leaders how to build platforms that will inspire others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/i-try-to-find-celebrate-and-teach-leaders-how-to-build-platforms-that/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Instead of showing up to let everyone know how great we are, show up to find out how great everyone else is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/instead-of-showing-up-to-let-everyone-know-how-great-we-are-show-up/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Knowledge is understanding based on what has been studied and learned. Wisdom is understanding based on what has been felt and experienced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/knowledge-is-understanding-based-on-what-has-been-studied-and-learned/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [There's only one of me. With you using the why in the center of your work helps me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/there-s-only-one-of-me-with-you-using-the-why-in-the-center-of-your/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“they didn't examine the problem and accumulate data to figure out the best solution - they engineered the outcome they wanted from the beginning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/they-didn-t-examine-the-problem-and-accumulate-data-to-figure-out-the/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) [Explore all 654 Simon Sinek quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) ## More Marine quotes > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [My dad was a Marine. He was one of the Montford Point Marines. Those are the equivalent of the Tuskegee Airmen for Marines. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-elder/my-dad-was-a-marine-he-was-one-of-the-montford-point-marines-those/) [Larry Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-elder/) > [I swam with my first shark in the 1980s. I was 20 miles off the coast of Rhode Island, working with a group of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-skerry/i-swam-with-my-first-shark-in-the-1980s-i-was-20-miles-off-the-coast/) [Brian Skerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-skerry/) > [We didn't see what happen when Marines fired M-16s... We didn't see what happened after mortars landed, only the puff of smoke. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-banfield/we-didn-t-see-what-happen-when-marines-fired-m-16s-we-didn-t-see-what/) [Ashleigh Banfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-banfield/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Without discipline, there is no Marine Corps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-lee-ermey/without-discipline-there-is-no-marine-corps/) [R. Lee Ermey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-lee-ermey/) > [When someone makes a move Of which we don't approve, Who is it that always intervenes? U.N. and O.A.S., They have their place, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/when-someone-makes-a-move-of-which-we-don-t-approve-who-is-it-that/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [Coral reefs represent some of the worlds most spectacular beauty spots, but they are also the foundation of marine life: without them many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheherazade-goldsmith/coral-reefs-represent-some-of-the-worlds-most-spectacular-beauty/) [Sheherazade Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheherazade-goldsmith/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [The legislature have anxiously provided for those most useful and deserving body of men, the seamen and marines of this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-legislature-have-anxiously-provided-for-those-most-useful-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Be kindly and just in your dealings with your men. Never play favorites. Make them feel that justice tempered with mercy may always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-lejeune/be-kindly-and-just-in-your-dealings-with-your-men-never-play/) [John A. Lejeune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-lejeune/) > [My grandfather is a retired Marine, and I've always had a great deal of respect for anyone who serves our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-pickler/my-grandfather-is-a-retired-marine-and-i-ve-always-had-a-great-deal/) [Kellie Pickler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-pickler/) Browse all 625 Marine quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If Marines told to obey their officer suspect for a second that the officer would avoid the truth or not take responsibility for their actions, simply to cover their own tail or make themselves look better, then the Circle of Safety shrinks and the entire fabric and efficacy of the group of Marines decays. 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