Strategy equals execution. All the great ideas and visions in the world are worthless if they can't be implemented rapidly and efficiently. Good leaders delegate and empower others liberally, but they pay attention to details, every day. Colin Powell More Quotes by Colin Powell More Quotes From Colin Powell Many interviewers when they come to talk to me, think they're being progressive by not mentioning in their stories any longer that I'm black. I tell them, 'Don't stop now. If I shot somebody you'd mention it.' Colin Powell black stories thinking Let me blow that up for you again. Colin Powell you-again politics blow I try to be the same person I was yesterday. Colin Powell persons yesterday trying 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 gay different views 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 opportunity people This is about Americans getting off the sidelines and getting onto the playing field, .. This is about each and every one of us who have been blessed by the wealth of this country sharing that blessing by reaching down and reaching back and lifting up somebody in need. That's what America is all about. That's what being American is all about. Colin Powell blessed blessing country I'll tell you what they're all going to face, whichever one of them becomes president on January 21st of 2009. They will face a military force - a United States military force that cannot sustain - continually sustain 140,000 people deployed in Iraq and the 20-odd or 25,000 people we have deployed in Afghanistan and our other deployments. Colin Powell iraq military people 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 baghdad fall thinking A sense of shame is not a bad moral compass. Colin Powell shame compass moral When you help the poorest in the world, you start to move them up an economic and social ladder, and they're not going to be moving toward violence or terrorism of the kind that we worry about. Colin Powell violence worry moving I can't deny that it will be a historic event for an African-American to become president. And should that happen, all Americans should be proud - not just African-Americans, but all Americans - that we have reached this point in our national history where such a thing could happen. It will also not only electrify our country, I think it'll electrify the world. Colin Powell african-american country thinking I'm an American, first and foremost, and I'm very proud - I 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 have to move beyond this. Colin Powell love-you years moving You have achieved excellence as a leader when people will follow you anywhere if only out of curiosity. Colin Powell curiosity leader people The United States is not stingy. We are the greatest contributor to international relief efforts in the world. Colin Powell relief united-states effort The president's personal staff has a unique role. Colin Powell roles unique president 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 military war peace Once the information is in the 40 to 70 range, go with your gut. Colin Powell guts range information 90 percent of my time is spent on 10 percent of the world. Colin Powell military history world 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. Colin Powell past moving thinking Nobody is ready to leave Iraq to be interviewed. Colin Powell ready-to-leave ready iraq
