Colin Powell Quotes


The day the soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership. Colin Powell Military 424
Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. Colin Powell Ego 171
The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong, unless proved otherwise. Colin Powell Uncategorized 152
If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude. Colin Powell Attitude 143
Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard. Colin Powell Work 114
I think the Iranians are clearly determined to have a nuclear program. And we have to assume that with a nuclear program they have the capability and the will to create a nuclear weapon. Colin Powell Assume 88
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. Colin Powell Business 87
Today I can declare my hope and declare it from the bottom of my heart that we will eventually see the time when that number of nuclear weapons is down to zero and the world is a much better place. Colin Powell Place 87
It isn't enough just to scream at the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations. We need our political system to start reflect this anger back into, 'How do we fix it? How do we get the economy going again?' Colin Powell Anger 80
I respect the fact that many denominations have different points of view with respect to gay marriage and they can hold that in the sanctity in the place of their religion and not bless them or solemnize them. Colin Powell Marriage 80
Policies that emanate from ivory towers often have an adverse impact on the people out in the field who are fighting the wars or bringing in the revenues. Colin Powell Politics 78
Bad news isn't wine. It doesn't improve with age. Colin Powell Age 77
No battle plan survives contact with the enemy. Colin Powell Uncategorized 77
Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off. Colin Powell Responsibility 76
What you're seeing with Occupy Wall Street and the others are people who are unhappy and they're directing their unhappiness now toward Wall Street and toward those they think are doing too well in our society. Colin Powell Society 75
Giving back involves a certain amount of giving up. Colin Powell Amount 74
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. Colin Powell Motivational 71
We all hoped in 2001 that we could put in place an Afghan government under President Karzai that would be able to control the country, make sure al-Qaeda didn't come back, and make sure the Taliban wasn't resurging. It didn't work out. Colin Powell Government 69
The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership. Colin Powell Confidence 68
Don't let your ego get too close to your position, so that if your position gets shot down, your ego doesn't go with it. Colin Powell Business 68
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. Colin Powell business 66
The United States is not stingy. We are the greatest contributor to international relief efforts in the world. Colin Powell Contributor 63
90 percent of my time is spent on 10 percent of the world. Colin Powell History 62
A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. Colin Powell Dream 61
The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting above average effort. Colin Powell Effort 61
In terms of the legal matter of creating a contract between two people that's called marriage, and allowing them to live together with the protection of law, it seems to me is the way we should be moving in this country. Colin Powell Legal 60
Always focus on the front windshield and not the review mirror. Colin Powell Perception 58
I try to be the same person I was yesterday. Colin Powell Person 58
Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership. Colin Powell Leadership 58
We got rid of a terrible dictator. We gave the Iraqi people an opportunity for a new life under a representative form of government. Colin Powell Government 58
Just hit my 75th birthday, I'm feeling great! Colin Powell Birthday 57
The freedom to do your best means nothing unless you are willing to do your best. Colin Powell Achievement 57
Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff. Colin Powell Politics 55
War should be the politics of last resort. And when we go to war, we should have a purpose that our people understand and support. Colin Powell Politics 55
Free speech is intended to protect the controversial and even outrageous word; and not just comforting platitudes too mundane to need protection. Colin Powell Speech 52
The chief condition on which, life, health and vigor depend on, is action. It is by action that an organism develops its faculties, increases its energy, and attains the fulfillment of its destiny. Colin Powell History 52
Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence. Colin Powell Success 45
I don't think we handled the aftermath of the fall of Baghdad as well as we might have. But that's now history. Colin Powell History 44
Either move or be moved. Colin Powell Actions 43
You dont know what you can get away with until you try. Colin Powell Leadership 43
My own experience is use the tools that are out there. Use the digital world. But never lose sight of the need to reach out and talk to other people who don't share your view. Listen to them and see if you can find a way to compromise. Colin Powell Experience 40
Look at the world. There is no pure competitor to the United States of America. Colin Powell Uncategorized 40
Get mad, then get over it. Colin Powell Anger 39
Never let your ego get so close to your position that when your position goes, your ego goes with it. Colin Powell Uncategorized 39
I was born in Harlem, raised in the South Bronx, went to public school, got out of public college, went into the Army, and then I just stuck with it. Colin Powell Army 37
Experts often possess more data than judgment. Colin Powell Professionalism 34
Have fun in your command. Don't always run at a breakneck pace. Take leave when you've earned it, spend time with your families. Colin Powell Family 33
We need to understand that we as citizens and as a government in any community throughout this country have no more important obligation than to educate those who are going to replace us. Colin Powell Government 31
Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand. Colin Powell Almost 30

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