“When a soldier complains of his hard life (or a labourer, etc.) try giving him nothing to do.”

“I had a reputation of being merciless at times. After a particularly busy night working with me, one of the newer backservers nursed his wounds over a beer and complained that I had ridden him hard. After that, I tried to take it easy on Seabiscuit, as we subsequently called him. When he worked hard and fast, I called him Bisquick.”

“I had to give him props, but how annoying of him to be a hero when I was trying so hard to dislike him. It was downright selfish.”

“And like the old soldier in that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the sight to see that duty.”

“Soldiers don't complain...I am not going to do it; I will pretend this is part of a war.”

“I know it's important to do more than just complain when there's something you don't like. You need to try to do something about it, or you're nothing but a whiner.”