19 Unforgettable quotes from legendary Marine General James 'Mad Dog' Mattis

Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis is in the running to lead the Pentagon for President-elect Donald Trump, and one thing is absolutely certain: He is eminently quotable.

The 66-year-old former four-star general met with Trump on Saturday to discuss a possible job offer as Defense Secretary and a large portion of D.C. is rallying behind him.

Mattis, 66, is something of a legendary figure in the US military. Looked at as a warrior among Marines and well-respected by members of other services, he's been at the forefront of a number of engagements.

If you look back on his storied 44-year career leading Marines in battle, and the many colorful quotes that he has given over the years, it's pretty easy to see why.

We've gathered some of Mattis' best sayings, taken from this San Diego Union-Tribune profile, unless otherwise specified.

Geoffrey Ingersoll contributed reporting on a previous version of this article.