Sam Manekshaw Quotes

#1. I wonder whether those of our political masters who have been put in charge of the defence of the country can distinguish a mortar from a motor; a gun from a howitzer; a guerrilla from a gorilla, although a great many resemble the latter.

Sam Manekshaw

#2. If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha.

Sam Manekshaw

#3. What is Moral Courage? It is the ability to distinguish right from wrong and having so distinguished it, be prepared to say so,irrespective of the views held by your superiors or subordinates and of consequences to yourself.

Sam Manekshaw

#4. If anyone tells you he is never afraid, he is a liar or he is a Gurkha.

Sam Manekshaw

#5. After India's victory in the war he was asked what would have happened if he had opted to be with the Pakistan Army at the time of partition in 1947, he quipped, then I guess Pakistan would have won.

Sam Manekshaw

#6. It's nonsense that people join the army to serve the country, like the politicians do it only for the sake of the country.

Sam Manekshaw

#7. What is the next thing you need for leadership? It is the ability to make up your mind to make a decision and accept full responsibility for that decision.

Sam Manekshaw

#8. There will be no withdrawal without written orders and these orders shall never be issued.

Sam Manekshaw

#9. Don't you think I would be a worthy replacement for you, Madam Prime Minister? You have a long nose. So have I. But I don't poke my nose into other people's affairs.

Sam Manekshaw

#10. He who neither drinks, nor smokes, nor dances, he who preaches & even occasionally practice piety, temperance and celibacy, is generally a saint, or a mahatma or more likely a humbug but he certainly won't make a leader or for that matter a good soldier

Sam Manekshaw