Robert M. Gates quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Robert M. Gates

Robert M. Gates Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Robert M. Gates on Wise Famous Quotes.

Robert M. Gates quotes: Well, I've ruffled a few feathers at all the institutions I've led. But I think that's part of leadership.

Well, I've ruffled a few feathers at all the institutions I've led. But I think that's part of leadership.

Robert M. Gates quotes: Until al Qaeda attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, Hizballah had killed more Americans than had any terrorist group in history.

Until al Qaeda attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, Hizballah had killed more Americans than had any terrorist group in history.

Robert M. Gates quotes: I wish I could set deadlines for the Congress, but that's just not the way the Constitution is written.

I wish I could set deadlines for the Congress, but that's just not the way the Constitution is written.

Robert M. Gates quotes: I had no difficulty as Secretary of Defense moving from the Bush administration to the Obama administration.

I had no difficulty as Secretary of Defense moving from the Bush administration to the Obama administration.

Robert M. Gates quotes: Things have gotten so nasty in Washington.

Things have gotten so nasty in Washington.

Robert M. Gates quotes: I'm a big advocate of drones.

I'm a big advocate of drones.

Robert M. Gates quotes: The United States has been a global power since late in the 19th century.

The United States has been a global power since late in the 19th century.

Robert M. Gates quotes: Health care costs are eating the Defense Department alive.

Health care costs are eating the Defense Department alive.

Robert M. Gates quotes: No president is well-served by groupthink or by everybody singing from the same sheet of music they think he's on.

No president is well-served by groupthink or by everybody singing from the same sheet of music they think he's on.

Robert M. Gates quotes: I read in the press, and therefore it must be true, that no secretary of defense had ever been quoted as arguing for a bigger budget for State.

I read in the press, and therefore it must be true, that no secretary of defense had ever been quoted as arguing for a bigger budget for State.

Robert M. Gates quotes: Be very careful what you recommend to the president because he will do what you say.

Be very careful what you recommend to the president because he will do what you say.

Robert M. Gates quotes: There's a lot of books out there about how you lead change in business, but I've certainly not seen any ... on how you do that in public institutions.

There's a lot of books out there about how you lead change in business, but I've certainly not seen any ... on how you do that in public institutions.

Robert M. Gates quotes: America's civilian institutions of diplomacy and development have been chronically undermanned and underfunded for far too long.

America's civilian institutions of diplomacy and development have been chronically undermanned and underfunded for far too long.

Robert M. Gates quotes: A wild and crazy weekend involves sitting on the front porch, smoking a cigar, reading a book.

A wild and crazy weekend involves sitting on the front porch, smoking a cigar, reading a book.

Robert M. Gates quotes: If there's ever an example that military power alone cannot be successful in Afghanistan, I think it was the Soviet experience.

If there's ever an example that military power alone cannot be successful in Afghanistan, I think it was the Soviet experience.

Robert M. Gates quotes: President Lyndon Johnson once said, "If the first person who answers the phone cannot answer your question, it is a bureaucracy." Don

President Lyndon Johnson once said, "If the first person who answers the phone cannot answer your question, it is a bureaucracy." Don

Robert M. Gates quotes: I have tried to maintain civil relationships with everyone I meet - and, even if I violently disagree with them, try to be respectful.

I have tried to maintain civil relationships with everyone I meet - and, even if I violently disagree with them, try to be respectful.

Robert M. Gates quotes: One of the toughest battles in intelligence is combating conventional wisdom.

One of the toughest battles in intelligence is combating conventional wisdom.

Robert M. Gates quotes: What I know concerns me. What I don't know concerns me even more. What people aren't telling me worries me the most.

What I know concerns me. What I don't know concerns me even more. What people aren't telling me worries me the most.

Robert M. Gates quotes: No administration in my entire career devoted more time and energy to working the Pakistanis than did President Obama and all his senior team.

No administration in my entire career devoted more time and energy to working the Pakistanis than did President Obama and all his senior team.

Robert M. Gates quotes: and personally ate sixteen pounds of brisket. The Air Force keeps track of important things like that.

and personally ate sixteen pounds of brisket. The Air Force keeps track of important things like that.

Robert M. Gates quotes: I don't think any president that I worked with has ever said 'pretty please.'

I don't think any president that I worked with has ever said 'pretty please.'

Robert M. Gates quotes: I have instincts.

I have instincts.

Robert M. Gates quotes: Most governments lie to each other. That's the way business gets done.

Most governments lie to each other. That's the way business gets done.

Robert M. Gates quotes: Well, Israel, obviously, thinks of the Iranian nuclear program as an existential threat to Israel.

Well, Israel, obviously, thinks of the Iranian nuclear program as an existential threat to Israel.

Robert M. Gates quotes: I have always voted for who I believed was the best person.

I have always voted for who I believed was the best person.

Robert M. Gates quotes: There will be boots on the ground if there's to be any hope of success in the strategy.

There will be boots on the ground if there's to be any hope of success in the strategy.

Robert M. Gates quotes: And so the greatest of American triumphs ... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades.

And so the greatest of American triumphs ... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades.

Robert M. Gates quotes: Development is a lot cheaper than sending soldiers.

Development is a lot cheaper than sending soldiers.

Robert M. Gates quotes: I think that Iran with a nuclear weapon is extremely destabilizing. I think it could precipitate a nuclear arms race in the region.

I think that Iran with a nuclear weapon is extremely destabilizing. I think it could precipitate a nuclear arms race in the region.

Robert M. Gates quotes: I will always be an advocate in terms of wars of necessity. I am just much more cautious on wars of choice.

I will always be an advocate in terms of wars of necessity. I am just much more cautious on wars of choice.

Robert M. Gates quotes: You know, if I were an - if I were a Taliban, I'd say, 'What did al-Qaida ever do for me except get me kicked out of Afghanistan?'

You know, if I were an - if I were a Taliban, I'd say, 'What did al-Qaida ever do for me except get me kicked out of Afghanistan?'

Robert M. Gates quotes: Defense is not like other discretionary spending.

Defense is not like other discretionary spending.

Robert M. Gates quotes: And then, after publication of Bob Woodward's book Obama's Wars

And then, after publication of Bob Woodward's book Obama's Wars