Douglas MacArthur

1880–1964 · US general; Army Chief of Staff 1930–35; Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area, 1942–45

Douglas MacArthur was Chief of Staff of the US Army from 1930 to 1935. In World War II he was Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area (1942–45), and he later oversaw the occupation of Japan and led the UN Command in Korea. In 1942 the airman Lt. Gen. George Brett served under him as commander of Allied air forces in his theater. In November 1942 Brett was moved to the Caribbean Defense Command, and this quip is recorded as MacArthur’s judgment of him.

Traced to source

2 quotes we’ve traced to Douglas MacArthur

“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts”

Verified

“You can use the brilliant but lazy man as a strategist, a brilliant but energetic man as a Chief of Staff, but God help you with a dumb but energetic man”

Attributed

Not actually Douglas MacArthur

Often misattributed to Douglas MacArthur

Famous lines widely pinned on Douglas MacArthur that we’ve traced to someone else.

“We are not retreating, we are advancing in another direction”

actually Oliver P. Smith

“Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul”

actually Frank Crane

“You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair”

actually Frank Crane

Did they really say it?

Thought Douglas MacArthur said something else?

Type a quote you think Douglas MacArthur said — we’ll tell you what we know, or point you to the best sources.