Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do… — George S. Patton | Printable Wall Art

“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”

Words by George S. Patton (1885-1945) — U.S. Army general, WWII.

About this quote

This quote advocates for delegation and trusting the problem-solving abilities of others. Instead of micromanaging process, effective leaders outline clear goals and allow their team the freedom to find creative solutions. It suggests that autonomy fosters resourcefulness, often producing far better results than rigid instructions ever could.

The line appears in General Patton's posthumously published memoirs, War as I Knew It, from 1947. It reflects his operational philosophy regarding military command, where rapid initiative from subordinates was vital to battlefield success.

People often display this print in a home office or workplace to inspire trust, autonomy, and collaborative problem-solving.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 18 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Tracked Caps Unsigned · Editorial Justified

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.