Free speech is intended to protect the controversial and even outrageous word; and not just comforting platitudes too mundane to need protection. – Colin Powell
I dont know that there is much the United States can do except work with the international community. – Colin Powell
What youre seeing with Occupy Wall Street and the others are people who are unhappy and theyre directing their unhappiness now toward Wall Street and toward those they think are doing too well in our society. – Colin Powell
Politics is not bean bags. Its serious, tough stuff. – Colin Powell
It aint as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning. – Colin Powell
In terms of the legal matter of creating a contract between two people thats called marriage, and allowing them to live together with the protection of law, it seems to me is the way we should be moving in this country. – Colin Powell
I dont think we handled the aftermath of the fall of Baghdad as well as we might have. But thats now history. – Colin Powell
In other words, dont expect to always be great. Disappointments, failures and setbacks are a normal part of the lifecycle of a unit or a company and what the leader has to do is constantly be up and say we have a problem, lets go and get it. – Colin Powell
Wouldnt it be great if we could look forward to a whole world in which no child will be left behind? – Colin Powell
We all hoped in 2001 that we could put in place an Afghan government under President Karzai that would be able to control the country, make sure al-Qaeda didnt come back, and make sure the Taliban wasnt resurging. It didnt work out. – Colin Powell
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 dont share your view. Listen to them and see if you can find a way to compromise. – Colin Powell
A dream doesnt become reality through magic it takes sweat, determination and hard work. – Colin Powell
Dont let your ego get too close to your position, so that if your position gets shot down, your ego doesnt go with it. – Colin Powell
Just hit my 75th birthday, Im feeling great! – Colin Powell
Fit no stereotypes. Dont chase the latest management fads. The situation dictates which approach best accomplishes the teams mission. – Colin Powell
I think whether youre having setbacks or not, the role of a leader is to always display a winning attitude. – Colin Powell
It isnt enough just to scream at the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations. We need our political system to start reflect this anger back into, How do we fix it? How do we get the economy going again? – Colin Powell
Bad news isnt wine. It doesnt improve with age. – Colin Powell
Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard. – 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. – Colin Powell
