“Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.”

Don’t just count your days, make your days count.

One important element of leadership is taking care of the troops.

Don’t be afraid to challenge the pros, even in their own backyard.

I regret that the presentation I made at the UN turned out to be wrong. It was wrong on the stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, but pretty much right on intentions and capabilities.

Always be looking for the opportunities, and always be optimistic about what you can do with that opportunity.

The essence of leadership is building bonds of trust in your organization.

Maybe we don’t put our young people in situations often enough where they’re allowed to fail. When you fail you gain experience, and with enough experience, you don’t fail as often.

Every organization should tolerate rebels who tell the emperor he has no clothes.

But just as they did in Philadelphia when they were writing the constitution, sooner or later, you’ve got to compromise. You’ve got to start making the compromises that arrive at a consensus and move the country forward.

The freedom to do your best means nothing unless you are willing to do your best.

You know you’re a good leader when people follow you out of curiosity.

Never neglect details. When everyone’s mind is dulled or distracted the leader must be doubly vigilant.

The most important thing I learned is that soldiers watch what their leaders do. You can give them classes and lecture them forever, but it is your personal example they will follow.

First you train the followers to accomplish the mission. Second, you resource them: Make sure that they have the tools to do the job. Third, you reward them: You give them medals or bonuses.

Look for intelligence and judgment and, most critically, a capacity to anticipate, to see around corners. Also look for loyalty, integrity, a high energy drive, a balanced ego and the drive to get things done.

A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.

The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.

The things that make me different are the things that make me.

I tend to play rather odd men. People that are slightly odd or eccentric, or have a more particular attitude to life.

I am losing all sense of decency.

Every time you state what you want or believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself.

I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it.

I am not here to be right.

Don’t be afraid to be different.