Top Colin Powell Quotes - Quotesmemo.com

Colin Powell Biography

Colin Luther Powell (/ˈkoʊlɪn/; born April 5, 1937) is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. Powell was born in Harlem as the son of Jamaican immigrants. During his military career, Powell also served as National Security Advisor (1987–1989), as Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command (1989) and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), holding the latter position during the Persian Gulf War. Powell was the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under U.S. President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, the first African American to serve in that position.

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Colin Powell Quotes

Look at the world. There is no pure competitor to the United States of America.

America, Competitor, Look, Looks, United, United States

Luck tends to come to people who are prepared.

Come, Luck, People, Prepared

Only when you have got a clear statement of what you want to achieve, do you ask yourself how you are going to achieve it. In the military we are taught never to go for a single answer, no matter how obvious that might be.

Answers, Clear, Military, Taught, Want

Remain calm, be kind.

Be Kind, Calm, Kind, Remain

I've voted for Republicans who were strong on defense, who believed in a free and open economy but who also understood that there's a place for government in our lives, that government has a responsibility to those of our citizens who are in need and those of our citizens who are needy of health care.

Believed, Government, Responsibility, Strong

I'm an American, first and foremost, and I'm very proud - I said, I've said, I've said to my beloved friend and colleague John McCain, a friend of 25 years, "John, I love you, but I'm not just going to vote for you on the basis of our affection or friendship. " And I've said to Barack Obama, "I admire you. I'll give you all the advice I can. But I'm not going to vote for you just because you're black. " We, we have to move beyond this.

Admire, Advice, Love You, Moving, Said, Years

The United States is looking at a way to launch peace with a disarmed Iraq. And so we are studying the declaration that Iraq submitted. Other members of the security council are studying the declaration, as is Unmovic and IAEA, and I would not make a judgment as to whether or not the declaration will be found deficient and whether or not that might lead to a material breach and whether or not, if it did, that would lead to action on the part of the United Nations.

Iraq, Members, States, Submitted, United States, Way

The United States is still seen as the leader at the world that wants to be free.

Free, Leader, United States, World

Don't be buffaloed by experts and elites. Experts often possess more data than judgment. Elites can become so inbred that they produce hemophiliacs who bleed to death as soon as they are nicked by the real world.

Real, Exercise, Data, Judgment, Bleed

My two Jamaican cousins. . . were studying engineering. 'That's where the money is,' Mom advised. . . . I was to be an engineering major, despite my allergy to science and math. . . . Those who preceded me at CCNY include the polio vaccine discoverer, Dr. Jonas Salk. . . and eight Nobel Prize winners. . . . In class, I stumbled through math, fumbled through physics, and did reasonably well in, and even enjoyed, geology. All I ever looked forward to was ROTC. Autobiographical comments on his original reason for going to the City College of New York, where he shortly turned to his military career.

Career, Cousin, Mom, Money, New York, Prize

An organization that is not facing up to people who are not getting the job done, is going to have difficulties.

Facing, Job, Jobs, Organization, People

The best method of overcoming obstacles is the team method

Method, Obstacles, Overcoming, Team

It is good if your enemy underestimates you. The dumber they think you are the more surprised they are when you kill them.

Enemy, Good, Interesting, Kill, Thinking

Everybody makes bad decisions. I am sure I have made my share of them over 40 years of service. Or I have made good decisions and have been overruled. The real challenge, when you are overruled, is to remember who the boss is and don't take it personally.

Decision, Decisions, Everybody, Real, Service, Years

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.

Assume, Create, Nuclear, Program, Thinking, Weapons

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.

Different, Gay, Place, Solemnize, Views

Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

Inspirational, Inspiring, Multiplier, Optimism, Perpetual, Positive

If everybody trusts one another, then the person who didn't prevail will faithfully execute the decision as if it was their idea.

Decision, Idea, Ideas, Person, Persons, Trusts

In the military, we are also taught to only use one third of the available decision-making time, so that our subordinates have time to go through their own decision processes when they learn what we want them to do.

Decision, Learn, Military, Subordinates, Taught, Use

I understand that and I have had very candid discussions with Saudi leaders in the past. I respect their culture and their heritage and their traditions, but I think that they now, as they move forward, will have to start examining these traditions and these practices to see whether or not change is appropriate.

Candid, Examining, Heritage, Moving, Past, Thinking

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