---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ruthless is not necessarily the word I…"
description: "\"Ruthless is not necessarily the word I would use, but tough, resolute, understanding what the problems are, and understanding that the job of the presi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/benjamin-carson-955_country_ruthless-is-not-necessarily-the-word-i-w_1520540.png"
---

#  Ruthless is not necessarily the word I would use, but…

![“Ruthless is not necessarily the word I would use, but tough, resolute, understanding what the problems are, and understanding that the job of the president of the United States is to protect the people of this country and to do what is necessary in order to get it done.” quote by Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/benjamin-carson-955_country_ruthless-is-not-necessarily-the-word-i-w_1520540.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/benjamin-carson-955_country_ruthless-is-not-necessarily-the-word-i-w_1520540.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/benjamin-carson-955_country_ruthless-is-not-necessarily-the-word-i-w_1520540.png)

> “Ruthless is not necessarily the word I would use, but tough, resolute, understanding what the problems are, and understanding that the job of the president of the United States is to protect the people of this country and to do what is necessary in order to get it done.”

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Leadership requires firmness, clarity, and prioritizing national safety over rhetoric.

**In simple terms:** Strong leaders protect people and act decisively.

Key Takeaway

Lead with resolve and protect citizens.

Themes

leadership responsibility national security

Mood

determined serious

Type

political inspirational

When to use this quote

- government policy
- crisis management
- public communication

Key Concepts

political ethics decision making public duty

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance firmness with compassion?
- What sacrifices are justified for national safety?

A Different Perspective

Balancing firmness with empathy can be challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Get it done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-it-done/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Resolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolute/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/)

## Related quotes

> [Its tough too live in a life your not use too, but its also tough to live in a life that hurts you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teady/its-tough-too-live-in-a-life-your-not-use-too-but-its-also-tough-to/)

$Teady

> [ One thing you learn in this job \[being US President\] is that even if something's not your fault, you're still responsible. And that's how… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-thing-you-learn-in-this-job-being-us-president-is-that-even-if/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The job of a leader, the job of a governor, the job of a president is to get the people in the room and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/the-job-of-a-leader-the-job-of-a-governor-the-job-of-a-president-is/)

[Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/)

> [It's the job of the president to ensure the protection of liberty in the United States of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/it-s-the-job-of-the-president-to-ensure-the-protection-of-liberty-in/)

[Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/)

> [Never, never, you must never either of you remind a man at work on a political job that he may be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/never-never-you-must-never-either-of-you-remind-a-man-at-work-on-a/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The job of president is to motivate, to inspire, to be side by side with people making sure that they develop all their capacities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-fox/the-job-of-president-is-to-motivate-to-inspire-to-be-side-by-side/)

[Vicente Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-fox/)

> [We need to stay in Iraq until the job is done. The President understands this and I'm glad that he is getting more countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-voinovich/we-need-to-stay-in-iraq-until-the-job-is-done-the-president/)

[George Voinovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-voinovich/)

> [You know, what genuinely makes me uneasy with the way things are going are not - is not really that Trump is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pierce/you-know-what-genuinely-makes-me-uneasy-with-the-way-things-are-going/)

[Charlie Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pierce/)

> [The job of a president is to identify, distinguish between the two. Make sure the people know that we view it as a threat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/the-job-of-a-president-is-to-identify-distinguish-between-the-two/)

[Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/)

> [The job of the president of the United States is to talk to the public, is to explain to them. Now, some presidents talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-job-of-the-president-of-the-united-states-is-to-talk-to-the/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [ On a good day, I view the job \[of president\] as directing an orchestra. On the dark days, it is more like that of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/on-a-good-day-i-view-the-job-of-president-as-directing-an-orchestra/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The Pope would have an easier job than the President of the United States in adopting a change of course. He has no Congress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-kung/the-pope-would-have-an-easier-job-than-the-president-of-the-united/)

[Hans Küng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-kung/)

> [As far as the job of President goes, its rewarding and I've given before this group the definition of happiness for the Greeks. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/as-far-as-the-job-of-president-goes-its-rewarding-and-i-ve-given/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [The job of every president is to ride herd over Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-conard/the-job-of-every-president-is-to-ride-herd-over-congress/)

[Edward Conard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-conard/)

> [It's not easy to have the job of president. It's not easy to run for it. And it's not a job for the feint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bush/it-s-not-easy-to-have-the-job-of-president-it-s-not-easy-to-run-for/)

[Laura Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bush/)

## More by Benjamin Carson

> [We have a war on women, race wars. Income wars, age wars, religious wars, anything you can imagine. A house divided against itself cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/we-have-a-war-on-women-race-wars-income-wars-age-wars-religious-wars/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [I do not want to get rid of the safety net, I want to get rid of dependency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-do-not-want-to-get-rid-of-the-safety-net-i-want-to-get-rid-of/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [Even if somebody disagrees with you, their life is still valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/even-if-somebody-disagrees-with-you-their-life-is-still-valuable/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [No matter who you are,no matter what you do-do not be too big for GOD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/no-matter-who-you-are-no-matter-what-you-do-do-not-be-too-big-for-god/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [I want the government to provide the military so we don't get invaded by somebody and destroyed. I want the government to provide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-want-the-government-to-provide-the-military-so-we-don-t-get-invaded/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [Our schools too often want to shut people up so they can't talk about real solutions. People who think differently tend to clam up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/our-schools-too-often-want-to-shut-people-up-so-they-can-t-talk-about/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [If you're a Christian and you're running for president and you want to make this into a theocracy, I'm not going to support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/if-you-re-a-christian-and-you-re-running-for-president-and-you-want/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [I don't want my kids to grow up with no father like I did. I came to the conclusion a while ago that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-don-t-want-my-kids-to-grow-up-with-no-father-like-i-did-i-came-to/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [Uninformed people can be easily manipulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/uninformed-people-can-be-easily-manipulated/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [The left, of course, will say Carson doesn't believe in the Geneva Convention, Carson doesn't believe in fighting stupid wars. And - and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/the-left-of-course-will-say-carson-doesn-t-believe-in-the-geneva/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [I don't worry about things that aren't important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-don-t-worry-about-things-that-aren-t-important/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [Surrendering to fear and allowing ourselves to be paralyzed by peril isn't something most of us can afford to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/surrendering-to-fear-and-allowing-ourselves-to-be-paralyzed-by-peril/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [I said Ted Cruz has been lying because if you say something that isn't true, and you say it over and over again, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-said-ted-cruz-has-been-lying-because-if-you-say-something-that-isn/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [Whoever wins in 2016, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a Republican, I think they should make it their goal to seal that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/whoever-wins-in-2016-i-m-pretty-sure-it-s-going-to-be-a-republican-i/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

[Explore all 321 Benjamin Carson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

## More Country quotes

> [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/)

[Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/)

[Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/)

> [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/)

[Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/)

> [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/)

[Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/)

> [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/)

[Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/)

[Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/)

> [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/)

[Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/)

[Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Ruthless is not necessarily the word I would use, but tough, resolute, understanding what the problems are, and understanding that the job of the president of the United States is to protect the people of this country and to do what is necessary in order to get it done.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Benjamin Carson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/ruthless-is-not-necessarily-the-word-i-would-use-but-tough-resolute/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Country"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/ruthless-is-not-necessarily-the-word-i-would-use-but-tough-resolute/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/benjamin-carson-955_country_ruthless-is-not-necessarily-the-word-i-w_1520540.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/benjamin-carson-955_country_ruthless-is-not-necessarily-the-word-i-w_1520540.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/benjamin-carson-955_country_ruthless-is-not-necessarily-the-word-i-w_1520540.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Ruthless is not necessarily the word I would use, but tough, resolute, understanding what the problems are…” — Benjamin Carson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Benjamin Carson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Ruthless is not necessarily the word...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/ruthless-is-not-necessarily-the-word-i-would-use-but-tough-resolute/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/ruthless-is-not-necessarily-the-word-i-would-use-but-tough-resolute/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
