Colin Powell

It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.

No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.

Foe means enemy. Now will we have differences of opinion with the Russians? Yes. Will they get mad at us from time to time and we get mad at them? That's part of the normal diplomatic relations.

Experts often possess more data than judgment.

A dream doesn't become reality through magic, it takes sweat determination and hard work.

Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them.

Don't bother people for help without first trying to solve the problem yourself.

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.

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.

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.

But just as they did in Philadelphia when they were writing the constitution sooner or later you've got to compromise. You've got to start making the compromises that arrive at a consensus and move the country forward.

I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring in the people they will bring in who they might appoint to the Supreme Court and look at the whole range of issues before making a decision.

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.

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.

I don't think we handled the aftermath of the fall of Baghdad as well as we might have. But that's now history.

It was the Congress that imposed 'Don't Ask Don't Tell ' it was certainly my position my recommendation to get us out of an even worse outcome that could have occurred.

Organization charts and fancy titles count for next to nothing.

Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously but not themselves those who work hard and play hard.

The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong unless proved otherwise.

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.