[ianmcgowan]

There's a long list of historical quotes about planning, but I think this reference might be to a different Patton:

"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week." - George S. Patton

* "Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow." ~ Sun Tzu

* "In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

* "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[jayrot]

"No plan survives contact with the enemy". --Helmuth von Moltke

or, if you prefer,

"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" --Mike Tyson.