The quotations of

Colin Powell

American general and diplomat

1937–2021

18 quotes, most often on Success, Leadership and America.

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.
- Leadership
Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand.
- Leadership
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.
- Success
Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off.
The Powell Principles (2003)
- Responsibility
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
- Success
Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.
- America
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.
The Powell Principles (2003)
- Success
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.’
- Race
When we are debating an issue, loyalty means giving me your honest opinion, whether you think I’ll like it or not. Disagreement, at this stage, stimulates me. But once a decision has been made, the debate ends. From that point on, loyalty means executing the decision as if it were your own.
- Decisions
Get mad, then get over it.
- Anger
Experts often possess more data than judgment.
- Education
- Wisdom
Have a vision. Be demanding.
- Success
You don’t know what you can get away with until you try.
- Risk
Bad news isn’t wine. It doesn’t improve with age.
Giving back involves a certain amount of giving up.
- Charity

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