Colin Powell quotes

Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. (Colin Powell)
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. View quote
Colin Powell
The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting in above-average effort. View quote
Colin Powell
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure. View quote
Colin Powell
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. View quote
Colin Powell
A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.-Colin Powell. View quote
Colin Powell
Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off. View quote
Colin Powell
Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard. View quote
Colin Powell
Get mad, then get over it. View quote
Colin Powell
You don't know what you can get away with until you try. View quote
Colin Powell
Never let your ego get so close to your position that when your position goes, your ego goes with it. (Colin Powell)
It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning. View quote
Colin Powell
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. View quote
Colin Powell
Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand. View quote
Colin Powell
Keep looking below surface appearances. Don't shrink from doing so just because you might not like what you find. View quote
Colin Powell
Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible. View quote
Colin Powell
Don't bother people for help without first trying to solve the problem yourself. View quote
Colin Powell
Never neglect details. When everyone's mind is dulled or distracted the leader must be doubly vigilant. View quote
Colin Powell
The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong, unless proved otherwise. View quote
Colin Powell
Every organization should tolerate rebels who tell the emperor he has no clothes. View quote
Colin Powell
Don't be afraid to challenge the pros, even in their own backyard. (Colin Powell)
Experts often possess more data than judgment. View quote
Colin Powell
Giving back involves a certain amount of giving up. View quote
Colin Powell
Our strategy in going after this army is very simple. First we are going to cut it off, and then we are going to kill it. View quote
Colin Powell
I don't want to spend the rest of my life giving speeches. View quote
Colin Powell