Robert M. Gates Quotes

American - Politician | September 25, 1943 -

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

Robert M. Gates

CrazyBookReadingSmokingWeekend

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

LeadershipThinkFeathersWellPart

There is no international problem that can be addressed or solved without the engagement and leadership of the United States and everybody in the world knows that, its just fact of life. So sometimes I think we could conduct ourselves with a little more humility.

Robert M. Gates

LifeLeadershipHumilityWorldThink

One of my favorite little sayings is, 'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.'

Robert M. Gates

CriticismSayNothingLittleAvoid

I have always that there ought to be some kind of mandatory national service, not necessarily in the military but to show everybody that freedom isn't free, that everybody has an obligation to the nation as a community.

Robert M. Gates

CommunityFreedomServiceFreeKind

If Iraq and Afghanistan have taught us anything in recent history, it is the unpredictability of war and that these things are easier to get into than to get out of, and, frankly, the facile way in which too many people talk about, 'Well, let's just go attack them.'

Robert M. Gates

HistoryWarPeopleGoWayTalk

I'm a big advocate of drones.

Robert M. Gates

DronesAdvocateBig

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

I AmChoiceWillMoreAlwaysJust

Health care costs are eating the Defense Department alive.

Robert M. Gates

HealthEatingCareAliveDefense

I've seen, all too often in my career, people coming in to lead agencies and organizations and trying to impose change from the top down. Never works. You never have enough time.

Robert M. Gates

ChangeTimePeopleEnoughYouDown

I had no concerns - I had no reason to have concerns based on what was available to me about North's contacts with the private sector people, but I didn't think a CIA person should do it.

Robert M. Gates

PeopleMeThinkPersonReasonCIA

If Poindexter made a comment to me like that, it would have been in the context of once the authorized program is approved there would be no point in having any of these private benefactors any longer.

Robert M. Gates

MePointContextCommentBeenMade

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