--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The president and I sat down in the Oval…" description: "\"The president and I sat down in the Oval Office, and he expressed very clearly that what he wants from me is my best professional military advice.\" — D..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/david-petraeus-11182_advice_the-president-and-i-sat-down-in-the-oval_419782.png" --- # The president and I sat down in the Oval Office, and he… ![“The president and I sat down in the Oval Office, and he expressed very clearly that what he wants from me is my best professional military advice.” quote by David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/david-petraeus-11182_advice_the-president-and-i-sat-down-in-the-oval_419782.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/david-petraeus-11182_advice_the-president-and-i-sat-down-in-the-oval_419782.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/david-petraeus-11182_advice_the-president-and-i-sat-down-in-the-oval_419782.png) > “The president and I sat down in the Oval Office, and he expressed very clearly that what he wants from me is my best professional military advice.” [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The president seeks the most honest and expert military counsel from the speaker. **In simple terms:** The president wants the best military advice. Key Takeaway Provide candid, professional advice. Themes leadership military honesty Mood serious professional Type advisory political When to use this quote - policy decision meetings - military briefings - advisory committees Key Concepts strategic counsel civil-military relations Questions to Reflect On - How can advisors balance honesty with political realities? - What risks arise from dissenting advice? A Different Perspective Advice may be constrained by political considerations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Oval office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oval-office/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) ## Related quotes > [I'm arrogant enough to tell you that I'm smart enough to have scored higher on my Scholastic Aptitude Test than any US president whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/i-m-arrogant-enough-to-tell-you-that-i-m-smart-enough-to-have-scored/) [Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/) > [I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-do-not-believe-in-a-personal-god-and-i-have-never-denied-this-but/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [What is conceived well is expressed clearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/what-is-conceived-well-is-expressed-clearly/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [Former president Bill Clinton was elected on this very day in 1992. 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Iraq still faces innumerable challenges, and they will be evident during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-progress-in-iraq-is-still-fragile-and-it-could-still-be-reversed/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) [Explore all 61 David Petraeus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. 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