Words of Wisdom

Post by **Xanatos** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:50 am

This is just for general sayings and quotes that can apply to an operative's life, easy things to remember to help you along. If you know any, post them here.
I'll start...

"Trust no-one."
"Have a plan. Have a backup plan, because the first one won't work."
"Be polite. Be proffesional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet."
"La shai wak'ion motlaq bal kollon momken. (Arabic for Nothing is impossible, anything is possible.)"
"To become truly invisible, one must become what they are hiding in."
"I'm not perfect, but I'm better than yesterday."
"The one who strikes first sets a path for his own destruction."
"The real truth lies in the shadows."
"There is a difference between what we are told to be true and what we see to be true. Most people do not bother to make the distinction, it is simpler that way."
"When stealth is your livelihood, you need to learn to see the things that everyone else ignores."
"The world is an illusion. One which we can either submit to, as most do, or transcend."

Ysidro · Post by **Ysidro** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:14 am

I like these, especially the TF2 quote.

Post by **Xanatos** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:31 am

TF2?
If anyone else has any, please share them.

Another quote which I will elaborate on... eventually:
"Balance, in all things."

stealththief · Post by **stealththief** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:48 am

"It was a pleasant ride. The ease of it all raised the philosophical question: If no one asks for a ticket, is there really a fare? Was this really a scam?!"
-Evasion

â€œ. . . then life began, and since then we remember each dumpster, abandoned house, and foot-chase by retail security. At night, after running around, plotting and scheming, our checklist items all crossed out, we paused to thinkâ€”'What to do tomorrow?' and the answer was always, 'As we please . . .'â€
-Evasion

"Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions."
-Sun Tzu

"When opportunity knocks, blackjack it and drag it into the shadows."
-Xanatos

"Sometimes it's best to just throw on basic black, put a flashlight in your pocket and wing it."
-Psychlonic

"Knowledge is weightless, doesn't add any bulk to you, can't be dropped, doesn't shine, doesn't rattle, and you can't lose it in the grass."
-Psychlonic

"Your only going to be as fast as your slowest technique"
-Blane

"Without philosophy, action has no meaning.â€
-Sebastian Foucan

"First, do it. Second, do it well. Third, do it well and fast â€” that means you're a professional."
-David Belle

"Remember, the Ninja
that runs away, lives to fight another day. Unless he is killed by fellow Ninja"
-G.T Karber

Post by **Xanatos** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:03 am

"Mystery, silence, shadows... these are my tools."
- Garrett

Psychlonic · Post by **Psychlonic** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:04 am

Having been reading through the Rogue Warrior series again, some quotes from Richard Marcinko, founder of SEAL Team Six:

â€œWe all knew there was just one way to improve our odds for survival: train, train, train. Sometimes, if your training is properly intense it will kill you. More often -- much, much more often -- it will save your life.â€

"Popularity is not leadership."

"K.I.S.S.: Keep It Simple, Stupid!"

Some others:

"In the cold darkness, where the predators wait in ambush, nobody cares how fast your draw is, nor what your score was, nor how many certificates you've collected." - Gabe Suarez

"A good plan executed now, is better than a perfect plan executed next week." - General Patton

"A warrior who is prepared to fight must also be prepared to die." - Sun Tzu

"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." - John Wayne

"Only a fool confuses preparedness with paranoia." - Unknown

"The wolf cares not, how many the sheep be." - Plato

"BEWARE THE FURY OF A PATIENT MAN" -John Dryden

"There is no shame in defeat as long as the spirit is unconquered." - Fenix Starcraf

"Anyone who gets in a fair fight...has no tactical skills." - Unknown

Legend · Post by **Legend** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:54 pm

Interesting that you should mention Richard Marcinko's books, I read Rogue Warrior this year.

Psychlonic · Post by **Psychlonic** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:48 pm

The guy is a genius. He might not sound as eloquent as Sun Tzu or any of the other big names, but his philosophies are every bit as truthful. I based a lot of my first ops around the "rules" he laid down in his books and it worked out quite well. He's a big influence of mine.

Post by **Xanatos** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:28 am

"The art of war teaches us not to rely on the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to recieve him. Not on the chance of his not attacking, but on the fact that we have made our position unassailable." - Sun Tzu (basically anything he says can be applied to NO or a combat situation in one way or another)

Basically; don't rely on the assumption that no security measures are present, but rather on the fact that you can overcome any resistance you encounter.

Post by **Ghost** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:17 pm

"analyze, adapt, overcome" - (unknown)

"anything worth having is worth fighting for." - (Thomas Jefferson)

"sweat saves blood." - (Erwin Rommel)

"Necessity has no law." - (Oliver Cromwell)

Post by **Xanatos** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 1:32 am

"The keenest of blades in the hands of a knave is but a bluff. The dullest of pencils in the hands of a skilled assassin can still write your epitaph."

"If we will not be governed by God, we will be ruled by tyrants."

"Start by doing what's necessary, then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

"A true Ninja knows all ways of violence. But in regard, he knows a way of peace for each way of violence."

"To know others is knowledge, to know yourself is wisdom. To have power over others is strength, to have power over yourself is true might."

"During the night I can't be seen. During the day I hide in the shadows."

"When you fall down you learn, but if you stay down you fail."

"Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend." - USMC Firefight Rules

"If youâ€™re ever in a fair fight, your tactics suck." - USMC Firefight Rules

"Use cover and concealment as much as possible...Don't drop your guard." - USMC Firefight Rules

"I'd rather die young and free than to live forever in a cage."

"In God we trust. Everyone else: keep your hands where I can see them."

"We (operatives) are the pieces of one big cake with different tastes." - Brain (member)

"Common sense is so rare nowadays it's a fucking superpower." - Biohazard (member)

Psychlonic · Post by **Psychlonic** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 5:23 pm

Just for fun:

Climb the highest mountain, Punch the face of God!
Seize the night... By the throat!
The police are here? Sucks to be them!
A wild animal bites you. Bite it the fuck back!
Dress your wounds... with salt and bleach!
Find the line. Cross it.
Bring a knife to a gunfight. Stab them while they're laughing.
When I find myself in times of trouble... I fuck shit up!
Bite off more than you can chew. Then chew it!
Fear is a reflex. Courage is a choice.
Eat lightning. Shit thunder.
Winning is my habit. What's yours?
Tomorrow is another night. Bring it on!
Follow my slipstream.
Impossible is a word weak people use to justify giving up.
I have a lucky number. It's infinity.
Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.
Falling is not defeat. Not getting back up is.
When life gives you lemons, demand seconds!
What doesn't kill you... dies horribly!
If he knocks your teeth out, spit them into his eyes!
Better to burn out than fade away.
Obsession is what the lazy call dedication.
All your enemies are dead? Kill their sons.
Which side am I on? The winning side, and you can join.
Life is either a daring adventure... or nothing!
Rob a bank. Burn the money.
There is no losing. Only delayed victory.
Life is a bitch. Your bitch!
You are an army of one. Declare war!
Choose your battles. Win them all regardless.
In the wild, there is no health care.
Don't lock your doors. Accept all challengers.

Post by **Xanatos** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 5:58 pm

^ Those are awesome.

MLB · Post by **MLB** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 9:55 pm

Cant believe it hasnt been said

PPPPPP- Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

Ysidro · Post by **Ysidro** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:21 pm

Pain is temporary, glory is eternal!

kunoichi · Post by **kunoichi** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:55 am

Psychlonic, those words are epic...!

Post by **Ghost** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 6:29 am

Psychlonic wrote:Just for fun:

Climb the highest mountain, Punch the face of God!
Seize the night... By the throat!
The police are here? Sucks to be them!
A wild animal bites you. Bite it the fuck back!
Dress your wounds... with salt and bleach!
Find the line. Cross it.
Bring a knife to a gunfight. Stab them while they're laughing.
When I find myself in times of trouble... I fuck shit up!
Bite off more than you can chew. Then chew it!
Fear is a reflex. Courage is a choice.
Eat lightning. Shit thunder.
Winning is my habit. What's yours?
Tomorrow is another night. Bring it on!
Follow my slipstream.
Impossible is a word weak people use to justify giving up.
I have a lucky number. It's infinity.
Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.
Falling is not defeat. Not getting back up is.
When life gives you lemons, demand seconds!
What doesn't kill you... dies horribly!
If he knocks your teeth out, spit them into his eyes!
Better to burn out than fade away.
Obsession is what the lazy call dedication.
All your enemies are dead? Kill their sons.
Which side am I on? The winning side, and you can join.
Life is either a daring adventure... or nothing!
Rob a bank. Burn the money.
There is no losing. Only delayed victory.
Life is a bitch. Your bitch!
You are an army of one. Declare war!
Choose your battles. Win them all regardless.
In the wild, there is no health care.
Don't lock your doors. Accept all challengers.

Some of those seem familiar, courage wolf meme from 4chan perhaps?

Ysidro · Post by **Ysidro** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:19 pm

I noticed, but wasn't going to say anything because they are funny.

Psychlonic · Post by **Psychlonic** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 2:30 am

Heh, they're all courage wolf. I just google imaged his name. Not a serious site nor meme, but the words send a good point across none the less.

Anthony Sykes · Post by **Anthony Sykes** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 12:05 am

Psychlonic's quote from Suarez is dead-on.

roccoco · Post by **roccoco** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 3:39 am

There's no substitute for improvisation. Even the best plans can't anticipate everything. You'd better be able to roll with the punches.

Post by **Xanatos** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:45 pm

"There is a difference between those who feel safest in the light, and those who feel safest in the dark." - posted by Psychlonic, unknown source

Captain Winky · Post by **Captain Winky** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 10:34 am

"The only truth that exists, is the one we create for ourselves."

kunoichi · Post by **kunoichi** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 3:53 pm

"Whether the rock hits the egg, or the egg hits the rock, the egg is the one that will break". Greek saying
"Never attack the sparrow with a canon". Chinese saying

Post by **Xanatos** » Wed Dec 01, 2010 11:29 am

"When life sets the bar too high: limbo." - Xanatos
"Be strong to be useful." - Yamakasi

R.A.N · Post by **R.A.N** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:40 am

Xanatos wrote:"There is a difference between those who feel safest in the light, and those who feel safest in the dark." - posted by Psychlonic, unknown source

Source is "the suffering" video game, one of the bosses says it I can't remember his name though
also

"Seek knowledge and grow without limits".

Post by **Xanatos** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:51 am

"Live to survive. Survive to live." - Xanatos
"People only cry 'unfair' when they didn't think of it first." - The Atomic Fish (origin unknown)
"Who dares wins." - SAS motto

inthedark · Post by **inthedark** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 6:37 am

I got one that I said
"Info is key. A misinformed agent, is a caught agent.... also your lucky I'm fast."
Said to my friend after she told me
"Oh don't worry the Janitor is in the music office"
Needless to say... he wasn't

Urgon · Post by **Urgon** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:32 am

AVE...

First come smiles, then comes lies. Last is gunfire. - Roland of Gilead, Dark Tower by Stephen King.
Control the things you can control, maggot. Let everything else take a flying fuck at you, and if you must go down, go down with your guns blazing. - Cort, Dark Tower by Stephen King.
Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum.
Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness.
Really? Then take the universe and grind it down to the finest powder and sieve it through the finest sieve and then show me one atom of justice, one molecule of mercy. And yet you act, like there was some sort of rightness in the universe by which it may be judged. - Death, Hogfather by Terry Pratchett.
Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life.
It is always useful to have an enemy who is prepared to die for his country, this means that both you and he have exactly the same aim in mind.
In order to have a change of fortune at the last minute you have to take your fortune to the last minute.

From Urgons book of Wisdom:
There are two kinds of people: those who say "Life is unfair" and those who say "Life is unfair" and do something about it.
Inaction is worse than any possible action. If you are going to surrender, then go and kill yourself and save some time and air for more worthy people.
If you gonna break law, break it hard.
Don't think about past, don't wonder about future - the most important part of your life is here and now.
Psychology is the art of saying to people that they are fucked up and getting money for this.
It's truth that not every priest is a pedophile, not every police officer is a dick and not every other person is an egoistic idiot, but it's safer to say they are - this way you won't be disappointed by them.
If you think the worst about others, you would be probably right.
"In the name of God" and "for commonwealth" are excuses to "for myself" used by people to rule and get their way.
From time to time act insane - it makes others more frightened.
"I'll kill you" said in monotone voice, or in cheerful one works great at people, who piss you off.

From shadows:
People are used to hear some background noise - don't act like a soundless stain on the material of sounds.
In darkness you see as good as everyone else - learn to rely on other senses.
In shadows no one will hear your screams.
Unnecessary risks are deadly in shadows.
Fear is good - it helped us survive. Trust your fears, but not exaggerate them.
I control the darkness within me and this is the source of all darkness.
Shadows don't always mean the darkness of the night. You might be in the shadows in the daylight in the middle of a desert. Shadows is is neither a place nor time - it's a state of the mind.
Never speak truth about your life in shadows. Everyone you trust with your secrets creates a piece of chain that ends in prosecutor's hands.
Be source of fear in the hearts of your enemies, not the victim.
Even though way of violence is tempting, try to avoid it at all costs.
Don't kill your enemies - make them fear you and set them free. It's better to be feared for what you may do, than what you did...

Post by **Xanatos** » Thu May 05, 2011 9:16 am

"Good things come to those who wait, but better things come to those who take." - Xanatos

The Atomic Fishy · Post by **The Atomic Fishy** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:49 am

another quote i can be accredited for came to me in a conversation with a friend but still applicable.

"adventure lies in the mystery and my freedom is preserved in secrets"
-The Atomic Fishy

Post by **Xanatos** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:04 am

"Those who enter the gates of hell shall not exit". We went in.
- Theconfusedone

Made me laugh, and pretty much sums up the philosophy of NO: exploring the places that society tries to keep us out of.

isfrael · Post by **isfrael** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 4:57 am

Those who cower in the ligt, will remain forever ignorant to the beauty of the night.

I wrote this as part of a bigger piece long ago.

Dethkreep · Post by **Dethkreep** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 4:02 am

roccoco wrote:There's no substitute for improvisation. Even the best plans can't anticipate everything. You'd better be able to roll with the punches.

This

Post by **Xanatos** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:16 am

"Dear Optimist, Pessimist and Realist,

While you were all busy arguing about the glass of water, I drank it.

Sincerely,
The OPportunist"

Post by **Xanatos** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 4:34 am

Illusion wrote:On the phone to my usual opping buddy:

Him: "We both know are strengths and weaknesses, mine are often heights. I liked the way you helped me that time we did our first tower."
Me: "How? I can't remember dude.."
Him: "If you fall, you'll die quickly - don't worry."
Me: "I remember saying that.. Sorry man."
Him: "No, it was true and it worked.. So yeah, I've remembered it and thanks."

Post by **Xanatos** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 7:03 pm

When trying to catch the prey, the hunter must think like the hunted. When trying to avoid the predator, the hunted must think as the hunter; at which point the two become indistinguishable. That's when things really start to get interesting.

Sa'Kage · Post by **Sa'Kage** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:29 am

You are who you choose to be - (Tattooed on my chest)
"Sic vis pacem para bellum" If you want peace, prepare for war. - (The Punisher)
I reject your reality, and insert my own. - (unknown origin)

"Remember, you are only as visible as you think you are, as loud as you want yourself to be, cover your eyes when you see headlights, run when you don't know what else to do, and remember, you are the night, you own the night, nothing can stop you."

-Training with Ghost

Urgon · Post by **Urgon** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:06 pm

AVE...

Sa'Kage wrote:"Sic vis pacem para bellum" If you want peace, prepare for war. - (The Punisher)

Not the Punisher(sounds like bad SM porn actor nickname), but ancient roman proverb...

Teutoni · Post by **Teutoni** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:52 am

It's not an ancient roman proverb either. It was a quote from "De Re Militari" written by Flavius Vegetius Renatus in roughly 390 A.D. and it's not a very good quote at that.

Shade · Post by **Shade** » Thu Mar 24, 2016 9:27 pm

Night... I own the night... And what I don't own..? I take. - Master thief

Post by **Xanatos** » Sat Mar 26, 2016 9:45 am

That one's from the original cinematic trailer for the Thief reboot, back when Stephen Russell was still supposed to voice Garrett.

Shade · Post by **Shade** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 1:46 am

Bruh, you know thief that well?! I'm a little obsessed. XD

Shade · Post by **Shade** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 1:56 am

"We'll burn that bridge when we get to it."

"A bird in the hand is worth killing two with a stone."

"You can take one man's trash to another man's treasure, but you can't make it drink."

"That's the way the cookie bounces."

"The fence is always greener on the other side."

"There's no use crying over fish in the sea."
-Malaphores

Post by **Xanatos** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 9:42 am

And don't cross the road if you can't get out of the kitchen.
Who can guess where that's from?

Shade · Post by **Shade** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 1:16 pm

A penny saved is worth two in the bush, isn't it?

Post by **Xanatos** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 2:15 pm

Well you know what they say; people in glass houses sink ships.