--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think of myself as Special Forces…" description: "\"I think of myself as Special Forces, clearing the path for the infantry.\" — Geraldo Rivera" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/geraldo-rivera-11087_clearing_i-think-of-myself-as-special-forces-clea_1493064.png" --- # I think of myself as Special Forces, clearing the path for… ![“I think of myself as Special Forces, clearing the path for the infantry.” quote by Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/geraldo-rivera-11087_clearing_i-think-of-myself-as-special-forces-clea_1493064.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/geraldo-rivera-11087_clearing_i-think-of-myself-as-special-forces-clea_1493064.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/geraldo-rivera-11087_clearing_i-think-of-myself-as-special-forces-clea_1493064.png) > “I think of myself as Special Forces, clearing the path for the infantry.” [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker likens themselves to Special Forces, clearing obstacles for others, emphasizing leadership and sacrifice. **In simple terms:** I clear the way for others. Key Takeaway Lead by removing obstacles for those you support. Themes leadership service sacrifice teamwork Mood determined responsible Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - project management - mentoring - community service - conflict resolution Key Concepts military metaphor protective role Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance helping others with self‑care? - When is it appropriate to take the lead? A Different Perspective Self‑sacrifice can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Infantry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infantry/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Special forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-forces/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I have many friends in Special Forces, and the amazing thing about these guys is how quickly they can read someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-vogel/i-have-many-friends-in-special-forces-and-the-amazing-thing-about/) [Mike Vogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-vogel/) > [While my mother tried to stem my truancy, it would be a complete stranger - an Army Officer in the Special Forces home on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/while-my-mother-tried-to-stem-my-truancy-it-would-be-a-complete/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [Let's just say I was in Special Forces and leave it at that. People can read into that what they like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lee/let-s-just-say-i-was-in-special-forces-and-leave-it-at-that-people/) [Christopher Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lee/) > [In 1967, I signed up for the Army, where I earned an equivalency diploma, then went on to join the Special Forces. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/in-1967-i-signed-up-for-the-army-where-i-earned-an-equivalency/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [The surest way to become a pacifist is to join the infantry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mauldin/the-surest-way-to-become-a-pacifist-is-to-join-the-infantry/) [Bill Mauldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mauldin/) > [There are now 17,000 local American police forces that are armed with rocket launchers, bazookas, heavy machine guns, all kinds of chemical sprays, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/there-are-now-17-000-local-american-police-forces-that-are-armed-with/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [I am in the infantry for 17 weeks and after that I don't know where I am going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-slovik/i-am-in-the-infantry-for-17-weeks-and-after-that-i-don-t-know-where-i/) [Eddie Slovik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-slovik/) > [My father - I once asked him what was his greatest achievement. He said his greatest achievement was that he fought in five wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/my-father-i-once-asked-him-what-was-his-greatest-achievement-he-said/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“Oh-h-h-h— Hidey, tidey, Christ Almighty Who the hell are we? Flim, flam, God damn We’re the infantry…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-yates/oh-h-h-h-hidey-tidey-christ-almighty-who-the-hell-are-we-flim-flam/) [Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-yates/) > [By the last returns to the Department of War the militia force of the several States may be estimated at 800,000 men - infantry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/by-the-last-returns-to-the-department-of-war-the-militia-force-of-the/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [Like Iran and Syria supplied Hezbollah with sophisticated anti-tank rockets - Matisse, Cornet, and other RPGs that caused great damage to Israeli tanks and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronen-bergman/like-iran-and-syria-supplied-hezbollah-with-sophisticated-anti-tank/) [Ronen Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronen-bergman/) > [Do not touch anything unnecessarily. Beware of pretty girls in dance halls and parks who may be spies, as well as bicycles, revolvers, uniforms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-wills/do-not-touch-anything-unnecessarily-beware-of-pretty-girls-in-dance/) [Garry Wills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-wills/) > [“The beauty of the infantry is its ability to truly teach tolerance. At the lowest level, when it is simply a matter of survival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-fenner/the-beauty-of-the-infantry-is-its-ability-to-truly-teach-tolerance-at/) [Adam Fenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-fenner/) > [It is remarkable that this people, though unarmed, dares attack an armed foe; the infantry defy the cavalry, and by their activity and courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giraldus-cambrensis/it-is-remarkable-that-this-people-though-unarmed-dares-attack-an/) [Giraldus Cambrensis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giraldus-cambrensis/) > [Artillery is more essential to cavalry than to infantry, because cavalry has no fire for its defence, but depends on the sabre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/artillery-is-more-essential-to-cavalry-than-to-infantry-because/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More by Geraldo Rivera > [I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/i-am-urging-the-parents-of-black-and-latino-youngsters-particularly/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [I'm tired of getting made fun of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/i-m-tired-of-getting-made-fun-of/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [McKinney, Texas is the number one place to live in the country. It's certainly the number place to live in Texas according to Forbes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/mckinney-texas-is-the-number-one-place-to-live-in-the-country-it-s/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [It's good (Michelle Malkin's) in D.C. and I'm in New York. I'd spit on her if I saw her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/it-s-good-michelle-malkin-s-in-d-c-and-i-m-in-new-york-i-d-spit-on/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [I speak Spanish to my children and they speak it better than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/i-speak-spanish-to-my-children-and-they-speak-it-better-than-me/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [ This is a sleaze bag murdering dog and he \[O.J. Simpson\] has played us for fools. And the worst thing he did was exacerbate… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/this-is-a-sleaze-bag-murdering-dog-and-he-o-j-simpson-has-played-us/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [Perhaps areas of Israel where current large Palestinian populations and demographic realities exist could be exchanged for Israeli expansion into the West Bank to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/perhaps-areas-of-israel-where-current-large-palestinian-populations/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [I'd like to give divorce a good name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/i-d-like-to-give-divorce-a-good-name/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [Saturday Night Live is hitting me on a regular basis again. This is my fourth decade that I've been lampooned on Saturday Night Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/saturday-night-live-is-hitting-me-on-a-regular-basis-again-this-is-my/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [Rich people who own mansions on the beach shouldn't get federal subsidies. If you want to stay there, take the risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/rich-people-who-own-mansions-on-the-beach-shouldn-t-get-federal/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [There is no doubt in my view that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-view-that-donald-trump-will-be-the-republican/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [I love cops. I think you have to walk in their shoes to understand, you know when they use violence, Michael Brown in Ferguson,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/i-love-cops-i-think-you-have-to-walk-in-their-shoes-to-understand-you/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [There are plenty of towns in America where the 4-year-old has shot his 2-year-old sister by using daddy's gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/there-are-plenty-of-towns-in-america-where-the-4-year-old-has-shot/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [I think that the, Ted Cruz is not even a natural-born citizen, argument will resonate for at least the next few weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/i-think-that-the-ted-cruz-is-not-even-a-natural-born-citizen-argument/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [Hip-hop has done more damage to black and brown people than racism in the last 10 years,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/hip-hop-has-done-more-damage-to-black-and-brown-people-than-racism-in/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) [Explore all 62 Geraldo Rivera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) ## More Clearing quotes > [“Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/clearing-out-all-your-misery-gets-you-out-of-the-way-you-cease-being/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Do you think you should warn him (the guard) that I'm going to kiss you?" He loved the flush that appeared on her face,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/do-you-think-you-should-warn-him-the-guard-that-i-m-going-to-kiss-you/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I looked in the mirror and stared at my reflection, until I was in the head-clearing trance that comes when you stare at something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-burd/i-looked-in-the-mirror-and-stared-at-my-reflection-until-i-was-in-the/) [Nick Burd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-burd/) > [Where does our investigation get its importance from, since it seems only to destroy everything interesting, that is, all that is great and important?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/where-does-our-investigation-get-its-importance-from-since-it-seems/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [Unless he had whiskey running through his veins, Willard came to the clearing every morning and evening to talk to God. Arvin didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/unless-he-had-whiskey-running-through-his-veins-willard-came-to-the/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [Though the words Canada East on the map stretch over many rivers and lakes and unexplored wildernesses, the actual Canada, which might be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/though-the-words-canada-east-on-the-map-stretch-over-many-rivers-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Rain scatters plum petals; Weeping stains the earth. One can only take shelter And wait for clearing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ming-dao-deng/rain-scatters-plum-petals-weeping-stains-the-earth-one-can-only-take/) [Ming-Dao Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ming-dao-deng/) > [Some of the generals are saying, 'We're making progress. We are clearing an area.' But you really don't defeat the Taliban by clearing an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/some-of-the-generals-are-saying-we-re-making-progress-we-are-clearing/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Clearing your head of distractions in order to notice and understand the people you are with can feel inefficient - there are so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/clearing-your-head-of-distractions-in-order-to-notice-and-understand/) [Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/) > [Tessa exhaled. She hadn't realized that she had been holding her breath until that moment. Will must have heard her, for he raised his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/tessa-exhaled-she-hadn-t-realized-that-she-had-been-holding-her/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you start picking up other people's impressions while you are meditating, then instead of clearing yourself, you are just going to completely glom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-start-picking-up-other-people-s-impressions-while-you-are/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [So what is the role that credit default swaps can play in an economy? Well my feeling is that if these things actually will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-engle/so-what-is-the-role-that-credit-default-swaps-can-play-in-an-economy/) [Robert F. Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-engle/) > [Life is about making choices: you can either spend three quid on a glossy magazine or you can spend it clearing three square metres…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/life-is-about-making-choices-you-can-either-spend-three-quid-on-a/) [Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/) > [Three times I have been mistaken for a prohibition agent, but never had any trouble clearing myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/three-times-i-have-been-mistaken-for-a-prohibition-agent-but-never/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [This is what I believe: That I am I. That my soul is a dark forest. That my known self will never be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-is-what-i-believe-that-i-am-i-that-my-soul-is-a-dark-forest-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 188 Clearing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think of myself as Special Forces, clearing the path for the infantry.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geraldo Rivera" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/i-think-of-myself-as-special-forces-clearing-the-path-for-the-infantry/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clearing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/i-think-of-myself-as-special-forces-clearing-the-path-for-the-infantry/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/geraldo-rivera-11087_clearing_i-think-of-myself-as-special-forces-clea_1493064.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/geraldo-rivera-11087_clearing_i-think-of-myself-as-special-forces-clea_1493064.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/geraldo-rivera-11087_clearing_i-think-of-myself-as-special-forces-clea_1493064.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think of myself as Special Forces, clearing the path for the infantry.” — Geraldo Rivera", "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": "Geraldo Rivera", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think of myself as Special...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/i-think-of-myself-as-special-forces-clearing-the-path-for-the-infantry/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/i-think-of-myself-as-special-forces-clearing-the-path-for-the-infantry/#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 } } ] } ```