Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.

A general's principal talent consists in knowing the mentality of the soldier and in gaining his confidence.

The traditional British view is that character is what matters in a general. They like a solid, simple man, with no newfangled nonsense about him. He should be preternaturally silent. If by chance he thinks at all he should not let this leak out, otherwise confidence would be destroyed.

But I know for a fact that had I had a father, I'd have some discipline. I'd have more confidence. Your mother cannot calm you down the way a man can. Your mother can't reassure you the way a man can. My mother couldn't show me where my manhood was. You need a man to teach you how to be a man.

I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle.

In order to be a leader a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence.