Colin Powell quotes

Colin Powell was an American statesman and four-star general who served as the first African American U.S. Secretary of State. His leadership during the Gulf War and role in shaping U.S. foreign policy made him a highly respected public figure. He remains a symbol of integrity, service, and breaking barriers in government and the military. Here are 153 of his quotes:

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.

Colin Powell

The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting in above-average effort.

Colin Powell

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.

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.

Colin Powell

A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.-Colin Powell.

Colin Powell

Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off.

Colin Powell

Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard.

Colin Powell

Get mad, then get over it.

Colin Powell

You don't know what you can get away with until you try.

Colin Powell

It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.

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

Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand.

Colin Powell

Keep looking below surface appearances. Don't shrink from doing so just because you might not like what you find.

Colin Powell

Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible.

Colin Powell

Don't bother people for help without first trying to solve the problem yourself.

Colin Powell

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

Colin Powell

The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong, unless proved otherwise.

Colin Powell

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

Colin Powell

Experts often possess more data than judgment.

Colin Powell

Giving back involves a certain amount of giving up.

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.

Colin Powell

I don't want to spend the rest of my life giving speeches.

Colin Powell