War should be the politics of last resort. And when we go to war, we should have a purpose that our people… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
The root cause of poverty is social injustice and the bad government that abets it — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
We got rid of a terrible dictator. We gave the Iraqi people an opportunity for a new life under a representative form… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
Politics is different, because the mission is always to get the necessary votes. A good politician goes through everything in terms of… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
We need to understand that we as citizens and as a government in any community throughout this country have no more important… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
There is no suggestion of regime change; quite the contrary, this is an initiative to help people and to help governments who… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
How often have we seen politicians take a principle position only to give it up three days later? That is what makes… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
We all hoped in 2001 that we could put in place an Afghan government under President Karzai that would be able to… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
I'm not active in politics. I vote as a citizen. And if somebody cares to know what my opinion is at the… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
You're not just voting for an individual, in my judgment, you're voting for an agenda. You're voting for a platform. You're voting… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
I have found that leadership is leadership is leadership. It applies whether you are in government or in corporate life or in… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
What we would be committed to would be a representative government where all the Iraqi people decide who should lead their nation,… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
Nobody has ever said in the United States government that we are going to war next month. No decision has been made… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
When you decide to get involved in a military operation in a place like Syria, you've got to be prepared, as we… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
It is the US government's desire for the Iraqi people to lead themselves, not for any outside power to be the leadership… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
I've voted for Republicans who were strong on defense, who believed in a free and open economy but who also understood that… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
We are rather candid with them about the nature of their political processes and the state of development of their institutions, but… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
You need to understand, if you take out a government, take out a regime, guess who becomes the government and regime and… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
Our model of politics is one that it is inclusive of all members of the society; all should be represented. That is… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
The most effective means of ensuring the government's accountability to the people is an aggressive, free, challenging, untrusting press. — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
Some people naturally have a sense of empathy and an understanding of how to bring their followers to do things. They become… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
Policies that emanate from ivory towers often have an adverse impact on the people out in the field who are fighting the… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
I served 40 years in government, and I'm not looking forward to a position or an assignment. Of course, I have always… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience. — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
We can seldom get our children to do what we tell them, but they almost never fail to imitate us. — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
With respect to where we are now, we have a voluntary army. And if we ever go back to conscription I hope that at… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
There are no secrets to success: don't waste time looking for them, success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
So like any football or basketball coach, you always always believe you're going to win. — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
We hope that more assistance will be available to the nations of the region, to include Egypt, on the three pillars that I discussed… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
One of the most worrisome things that emerges from the thick intelligence file we have on Iraq's biological weapons is the existence of mobile… — Colin Powell Copy Share Image
