--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your commanders have ordered you to storm…" description: "\"Your commanders have ordered you to storm the White House and to arrest me. But I as the elected President of Russia give you the order to turn your ta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/boris-yeltsin-14066_commanders_your-commanders-have-ordered-you-to-stor_299711.jpg" --- # Your commanders have ordered you to storm the White House… ![“Your commanders have ordered you to storm the White House and to arrest me. But I as the elected President of Russia give you the order to turn your tanks and not to fight against your own people.” quote by Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/boris-yeltsin-14066_commanders_your-commanders-have-ordered-you-to-stor_299711.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/boris-yeltsin-14066_commanders_your-commanders-have-ordered-you-to-stor_299711.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/boris-yeltsin-14066_commanders_your-commanders-have-ordered-you-to-stor_299711.jpg) > “Your commanders have ordered you to storm the White House and to arrest me. But I as the elected President of Russia give you the order to turn your tanks and not to fight against your own people.” [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A commander is ordered to attack but the President commands restraint to protect citizens. **In simple terms:** President orders restraint over attack. Key Takeaway Prioritize civilian safety over orders. Themes leadership civilian protection military obedience political authority Mood serious grave Type political ethical When to use this quote - conflict zones - civil unrest - peacekeeping missions Key Concepts ethical dilemma civil-military relations Questions to Reflect On - How to balance obedience and conscience? - When to defy orders? A Different Perspective Orders may conflict with moral duty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Tanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tanks/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) ## Related quotes > [It's not dissimilar to what we see with the president of Russia, who uses a minority there, the lesbian, gay, bisexual community ... and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mulcair/it-s-not-dissimilar-to-what-we-see-with-the-president-of-russia-who/) [Thomas Mulcair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mulcair/) > [When I was 18 and was studying in university, Vladimir Putin became president of Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/when-i-was-18-and-was-studying-in-university-vladimir-putin-became/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [The last time I was in Japan as President of Russia was 11 years ago, if memory serves. I later visited in my capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/the-last-time-i-was-in-japan-as-president-of-russia-was-11-years-ago/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [We have Mr. Putin in Russia. And he appears to be a popular president of Russia. And I don't think it's the business of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/we-have-mr-putin-in-russia-and-he-appears-to-be-a-popular-president/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Hard men present hard choices - none more so than Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/hard-men-present-hard-choices-none-more-so-than-vladimir-putin-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The general verdict among the German generals I interrogated in 1945 was that Field-Marshal von Manstein had proved the ablest commander in their Army,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-von-manstein/the-general-verdict-among-the-german-generals-i-interrogated-in-1945/) [Erich von Manstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-von-manstein/) > [The commander of the forces of a large State may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-commander-of-the-forces-of-a-large-state-may-be-carried-off-but/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [When you kneel in prayer, don't give God orders, just report to your Commander in Chief for duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catt/when-you-kneel-in-prayer-don-t-give-god-orders-just-report-to-your/) [Michael Catt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-catt/) > [“weaker commanders would get a solid explanation about the burden of command and the deep meaning of responsibility: the leader is truly and ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/weaker-commanders-would-get-a-solid-explanation-about-the-burden-of/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [I intend to make America strong again. I'm going to be the champion of the middle class, where I came from. If you make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/i-intend-to-make-america-strong-again-i-m-going-to-be-the-champion-of/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [At first he thought he felt bad because he was afraid of leading an army, but it wasn't true. He knew he'd make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/at-first-he-thought-he-felt-bad-because-he-was-afraid-of-leading-an/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Blackbeard was larger than life. He was 6'4" in 1710. He was a colossus, and like a rock star walking into a bar. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevenson/blackbeard-was-larger-than-life-he-was-6-4-in-1710-he-was-a-colossus/) [Ray Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevenson/) > [Through my time in the military and my deployments, I have recognized the importance of having a Commander in Chief who will not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/through-my-time-in-the-military-and-my-deployments-i-have-recognized/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [The architect is very interesting because the architect is the commander, meaning the one who commands all the workers. The architect is also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-architect-is-very-interesting-because-the-architect-is-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [Azerbaijan unleashed the war, and was defeated in that war; Azerbaijan asked for truce (including from the Commander of Karabakh's forces) and later started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serzh-sargsyan/azerbaijan-unleashed-the-war-and-was-defeated-in-that-war-azerbaijan/) [Serzh Sargsyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serzh-sargsyan/) ## More by Boris Yeltsin > [We Russians are already living, not getting ready to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/we-russians-are-already-living-not-getting-ready-to-live/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [A sense of proportion and humanitarian action are not issues for terrorists. Their aim is that of killing and destroying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/a-sense-of-proportion-and-humanitarian-action-are-not-issues-for/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [I understand that it's hard for everyone, but one cannot give in to emotions... we'll have to draw lessons from the current crisis and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/i-understand-that-it-s-hard-for-everyone-but-one-cannot-give-in-to/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [The main problem with being president is the constant sense that you are inside a glass bowl for everyone to see, or in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/the-main-problem-with-being-president-is-the-constant-sense-that-you/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [I would like to stress here that a lasting peace in the Chechen republic and so-called peace talks with the bandits are not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/i-would-like-to-stress-here-that-a-lasting-peace-in-the-chechen/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [We want peace and a political solution to the situation in Chechnya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/we-want-peace-and-a-political-solution-to-the-situation-in-chechnya/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [A total of 1,580 people, the civilian population, suffered as a result of the bloody wave of terrorist acts that swept over Moscow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/a-total-of-1-580-people-the-civilian-population-suffered-as-a-result/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [Liberty sets the mind free, fosters independence and unorthodox thinking and ideas. But it does not offer instant prosperity or happiness and wealth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/liberty-sets-the-mind-free-fosters-independence-and-unorthodox/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [We all have an equal interest in stability and security throughout Europe. The years the OSCE has existed, and particularly this year, have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/we-all-have-an-equal-interest-in-stability-and-security-throughout/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [“You can build a throne of bayonets, but you can't sit on it for long.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/you-can-build-a-throne-of-bayonets-but-you-can-t-sit-on-it-for-long/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [Gorbachev gave us freedom of worship and freedom of speech and freedom to see what was going on and freedom to vote, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/gorbachev-gave-us-freedom-of-worship-and-freedom-of-speech-and/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [I am convinced that the moment is coming when, with its message of eternal, universal values, it will come to the aid of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/i-am-convinced-that-the-moment-is-coming-when-with-its-message-of/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [We, Russia, are prepared to work with others. I am convinced that stability and security in Europe cannot be considered without taking Russia into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/we-russia-are-prepared-to-work-with-others-i-am-convinced-that/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [Storm clouds of terror and dictatorship are gathering over the whole country... They must not be allowed to bring eternal night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/storm-clouds-of-terror-and-dictatorship-are-gathering-over-the-whole/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [Thousands of mercenaries, who have trained in camps on the territory of Chechnya as well as come in from abroad, are actually preparing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/thousands-of-mercenaries-who-have-trained-in-camps-on-the-territory/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) [Explore all 48 Boris Yeltsin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) ## More Commanders quotes > [Azerbaijan unleashed the war, and was defeated in that war; Azerbaijan asked for truce (including from the Commander of Karabakh's forces) and later started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serzh-sargsyan/azerbaijan-unleashed-the-war-and-was-defeated-in-that-war-azerbaijan/) [Serzh Sargsyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serzh-sargsyan/) > [The architect is very interesting because the architect is the commander, meaning the one who commands all the workers. The architect is also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-architect-is-very-interesting-because-the-architect-is-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [Through my time in the military and my deployments, I have recognized the importance of having a Commander in Chief who will not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/through-my-time-in-the-military-and-my-deployments-i-have-recognized/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [Blackbeard was larger than life. He was 6'4" in 1710. He was a colossus, and like a rock star walking into a bar. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevenson/blackbeard-was-larger-than-life-he-was-6-4-in-1710-he-was-a-colossus/) [Ray Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevenson/) > [At first he thought he felt bad because he was afraid of leading an army, but it wasn't true. He knew he'd make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/at-first-he-thought-he-felt-bad-because-he-was-afraid-of-leading-an/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I intend to make America strong again. I'm going to be the champion of the middle class, where I came from. If you make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/i-intend-to-make-america-strong-again-i-m-going-to-be-the-champion-of/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [“weaker commanders would get a solid explanation about the burden of command and the deep meaning of responsibility: the leader is truly and ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/weaker-commanders-would-get-a-solid-explanation-about-the-burden-of/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [When you kneel in prayer, don't give God orders, just report to your Commander in Chief for duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catt/when-you-kneel-in-prayer-don-t-give-god-orders-just-report-to-your/) [Michael Catt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-catt/) > [The commander of the forces of a large State may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-commander-of-the-forces-of-a-large-state-may-be-carried-off-but/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/he-who-has-never-learned-to-obey-cannot-be-a-good-commander/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The nature of encounter operations required of the commanders limitless initiative and constant readiness to take the responsibility for military actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgy-zhukov/the-nature-of-encounter-operations-required-of-the-commanders/) [Georgy Zhukov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgy-zhukov/) > [My first job as commander in chief is to keep the American people safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-first-job-as-commander-in-chief-is-to-keep-the-american-people-safe/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I don't even think of myself as a quote, unquote star - that's really douchey. I think of myself as just like a dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/i-don-t-even-think-of-myself-as-a-quote-unquote-star-that-s-really/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [I don't like celebrity quarterbacks. We don't need those. We need battlefield commanders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-parcells/i-don-t-like-celebrity-quarterbacks-we-don-t-need-those-we-need/) [Bill Parcells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-parcells/) > [Military commanders do not want to be tried for war crimes, even if those crimes are committed online.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/military-commanders-do-not-want-to-be-tried-for-war-crimes-even-if/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) [Browse all 320 Commanders quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Your commanders have ordered you to storm the White House and to arrest me. But I as the elected President of Russia give you the order to turn your tanks and not to fight against your own people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Boris Yeltsin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/your-commanders-have-ordered-you-to-storm-the-white-house-and-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commanders" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/your-commanders-have-ordered-you-to-storm-the-white-house-and-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/boris-yeltsin-14066_commanders_your-commanders-have-ordered-you-to-stor_299711.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/boris-yeltsin-14066_commanders_your-commanders-have-ordered-you-to-stor_299711.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/boris-yeltsin-14066_commanders_your-commanders-have-ordered-you-to-stor_299711.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Your commanders have ordered you to storm the White House and to arrest me. But I as the elected President…” — Boris Yeltsin", "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": "Boris Yeltsin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Your commanders have ordered you to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/your-commanders-have-ordered-you-to-storm-the-white-house-and-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/your-commanders-have-ordered-you-to-storm-the-white-house-and-to/#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 } } ] } ```