Lee Child - Jack Reacher's Rules

“You know that old expression ‘He could play the guitar just like ringing a bell’? That’s what I used to say about Blake. He would pick up that old instrument of his and the notes would just come tumbling out, faster than you could sing them. But each note was just a perfect little silver bell, floating off into the air.”

“For the infantry it all came down to simple arithmetic. If you could inflict two casualties for every one you took, you were ahead.”

“To fail to take the battle to the enemy when your back is to the wall is to perish.”

Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Think like the enemy; be the enemy.

When contemplating the offensive, the first thing you must plan is your inevitable retreat.

If your attack is going too well, you have walked into an ambush.

Combat will occur on the ground between two adjoining maps.

Never leave enemy ordnance usable.

“All plans fall apart as soon as the first shot is fired.”

Friendly fire isn’t that friendly.

If you can’t attack at one end, you have to defend at the other.

Incoming fire has the right of way.

Double back to positions the enemy thinks are abandoned.

If you’re surrounded, that simplifies your problems.

“A good battle plan that you act on today can be better than a perfect one tomorrow.”

Gen. George S. Patton

“Sooner or later, you’ve got to engage the enemy’s main force. You don’t win the war unless you do that. You take it on and you destroy it.”

In order to win, you must be prepared to lose.

Don’t worry about why it went wrong. Just damn well put it right.

Know how to deceive the enemy, and that sooner or later they have to be fought head-on.

If you attack you have to keep on and on attacking until the enemy is run off its feet and the war is won.

Everything in war is improvisation.

Try to look unimportant. They may be low on ammo.

Never retreat, just advance in the opposite direction.

“While coolness in disaster is the supreme proof of a commander’s courage, energy in pursuit is the surest test of his strength of will.”

Field Marshal Viscount Wavell

“They mess with me, they answer to me.”

“War isn’t about dying for your country. It’s about making the enemy die for his.”

Gen. George S. Patton

“Cocked and locked.”

1 Beretta M9Over two decades of distinguished service in the U.S. Army

2 Glock 17Extremely simple and extremely reliable

3 Heckler & Koch MP5KA submachine gun for law enforcement

4 M16 assault rifleFor a long time the U.S. Army’s weapon of choice

5 SIG-Sauer P226Swiss excellence

6 Smith & Wesson Military and Police revolverOld-fashioned excellence

“If you really want to know, one at a time is usually enough for me.”

A brave woman is one who stands up when she hears gunshots. She doesn’t dive under the desk.

Show a woman respect, and she’s yours.

Undressing a woman is one of life’s greatest perks. Especially Lycra—can’t beat it.

He smiled. “I was thinking about your dress.”

“You like it?”

“I think it’s great,” he said. “But it could look better. You know, maybe thrown in a heap on the floor.”

“I like women in uniform, possibly because I’ve known very few of the other kind.”

There’s nothing shameful about taking orders from a woman of superior rank.

Only have one affair at a time—that’s complicated enough.

“I don’t do permanent.”

Older women … are worth it.

Female police officers carry handcuffs, which can be handy in bed.

Accept no as an answer, if she’s crazy enough to turn you down.

“She was more than flawless. She was spectacular. She had a revolver in a holster on her right hip, and next to it was a shotgun stuffed muzzle-down in a scabbard mounted between the seats.”

“You like undressing women?”

“More than anything in the world,” I said. “And I’ve been staring at that particular button since a quarter past nine.”

If you can stand to watch her eat, that has to mean something.

Never hit a woman unless she’s trying to kill you.

Never make love in a car—they’re not usually wide enough.

If you’re guessing a woman’s age, always err on the side of caution and knock off a couple of years.

Only very experienced men should try to guess a woman’s bra size by her voice.

Love them and leave them.

“Your ass deserves nothing but the best. It’s a national treasure. Or a regional attraction at the very least.”

THINGS YOU’LL NEVER HEAR REACHER SAY

Hey, babe, your place or mine?

HOW TO SLEEP IN A $350-A-NIGHT HOTEL ROOM FOR $50

*****

Start late, around midnight

Ask the night clerk for an available room

Tell him you need to check it out

Get him to come with you

Once you’re in it, offer him two twenties

And ten for the maid

He’s happy

You’ve got a cheap room for the night

FIND

the road out of town, stand by the side of it, and stick out your thumb.

or:

FIND

the bus station and get on the first bus out.

DON’T

look back.

For details of Jack Reacher’s adventures and books by Lee Child, go to www.leechild.com.