--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I follow my orders without question, as a…" description: "\"“I follow my orders without question, as a good soldier would. You ask the same from your soldiers.' 'No, I ask them to be good people. That way if the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/jennifer-a-nielsen-7308_doing-the-right-thin_i-follow-my-orders-without-question-as-a_1493722.jpg" --- # I follow my orders without question, as a good soldier… ![“I follow my orders without question, as a good soldier would. You ask the same from your soldiers.' 'No, I ask them to be good people. That way if they follow my orders, I will know I am doing the right thing.” quote by Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/jennifer-a-nielsen-7308_doing-the-right-thin_i-follow-my-orders-without-question-as-a_1493722.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/jennifer-a-nielsen-7308_doing-the-right-thin_i-follow-my-orders-without-question-as-a_1493722.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7a/jennifer-a-nielsen-7308_doing-the-right-thin_i-follow-my-orders-without-question-as-a_1493722.jpg) > ““I follow my orders without question, as a good soldier would. You ask the same from your soldiers.' 'No, I ask them to be good people. That way if they follow my orders, I will know I am doing the right thing.”” [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) ## 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 moral integrity; orders are justified only when they serve ethical good. **In simple terms:** Lead with ethics, not blind obedience. Key Takeaway Prioritize moral character. Themes leadership ethics authority Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team management - military training - community organizing Key Concepts philosophy military ethics character development Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess the morality of orders? - What safeguards ensure leaders stay ethical? A Different Perspective Blind obedience can enable harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Soldiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-soldiers-5461254/) [Doing the right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-right-thing/) [Follow Orders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-orders-852641/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Good Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-soldier/) [Jaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jaron/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Soldier Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier-ask-5461253/) [Soldiers Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldiers-ask-3678028/) ## Related quotes > [“I need a sword first," I said. "People here keep taking mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/i-need-a-sword-first-i-said-people-here-keep-taking-mine/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“The last thing I needed was rational thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/the-last-thing-i-needed-was-rational-thought/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Villains and plots and enemies are simple things to me. But friendships are complicated, and love is harder still. It has wounded me deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/villains-and-plots-and-enemies-are-simple-things-to-me-but/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Is it true?" Devlin asked me. "You're Prince Jaron?" "KING Jaron, actually. News must travel slower amongst the illiterate." I glared at Gregor with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/is-it-true-devlin-asked-me-you-re-prince-jaron-king-jaron-actually/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Kippenger suppressed a grin -- I could've sworn he did. Without looking at anyone, he said, "Jargon wrote, 'You'll get nothing from me, ever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/kippenger-suppressed-a-grin-i-could-ve-sworn-he-did-without-looking/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“I'm still a king. My title isn't determined by my crown; it's in my blood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/i-m-still-a-king-my-title-isn-t-determined-by-my-crown-it-s-in-my/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Erick had underestimated the distance, both to the ground and the cliff above me, yet the texture of the cliff wall was better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/erick-had-underestimated-the-distance-both-to-the-ground-and-the/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-falwell/christians-like-slaves-and-soldiers-ask-no-questions/) [Jerry Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-falwell/) > [“Don't make this a fight." "I won't, but you make everything a fight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/don-t-make-this-a-fight-i-won-t-but-you-make-everything-a-fight/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Avenia thinks they're battling a king. I doubt they're prepared to fight a boy who thinks childish pranks are practical strategies for war." "Aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/avenia-thinks-they-re-battling-a-king-i-doubt-they-re-prepared-to/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“You made the right choice," Roden whispered. "Though you did choose his name rather quickly. "He has a skinny neck. He'd have died faster."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/you-made-the-right-choice-roden-whispered-though-you-did-choose-his/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Nobody gives you respect in this life. You must take it, you must earn it, and then you must hold it sacred, because no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/nobody-gives-you-respect-in-this-life-you-must-take-it-you-must-earn/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“With a grin, I told her, "I'll have more than ten minutes' notice that this battle is coming. In that way, this might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/with-a-grin-i-told-her-i-ll-have-more-than-ten-minutes-notice-that/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [And shortly after that, when I try to get access to those soldiers, to ask them what in the world was going on, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-karpinski/and-shortly-after-that-when-i-try-to-get-access-to-those-soldiers-to/) [Janis Karpinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-karpinski/) > [“And I want you to find something in the hills for the vigils to protect, like a rock or a thornbush. I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/and-i-want-you-to-find-something-in-the-hills-for-the-vigils-to/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) ## More by Jennifer A. Nielsen > [“Get me a real chair”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/get-me-a-real-chair/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Kneel, please," Connor said. "I wish to study you better." Come as close to me as you'd like," I answered. "Study me here, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/kneel-please-connor-said-i-wish-to-study-you-better-come-as-close-to/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“I need a sword first," I said. "People here keep taking mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/i-need-a-sword-first-i-said-people-here-keep-taking-mine/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“No offense, Jaron, but I don't want your life. Even locked away behind closed doors I got a taste for how awful it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/no-offense-jaron-but-i-don-t-want-your-life-even-locked-away-behind/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Truly, it is in the darkness that one finds the light”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/truly-it-is-in-the-darkness-that-one-finds-the-light/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“I thought you were from a civilized country," he said. "How have you come to look more like Carthya's whipping boy than its king?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/i-thought-you-were-from-a-civilized-country-he-said-how-have-you-come/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Above all else, I think that you are a compulsive liar." My laughter was tense, but sincere. "Hardly. In fact, I consider myself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/above-all-else-i-think-that-you-are-a-compulsive-liar-my-laughter-was/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“This is for you." i pressed the stone in Kerwyn's hand. Kerwyn turned it over in his hands, unimpressed. "imatator's gold? It's worthless." "No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/this-is-for-you-i-pressed-the-stone-in-kerwyn-s-hand-kerwyn-turned-it/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“As part of the grand joke that had become my life, the gods had given me a master with the wit of a withered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/as-part-of-the-grand-joke-that-had-become-my-life-the-gods-had-given/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“...a strong heart will always overcome a strong body”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/a-strong-heart-will-always-overcome-a-strong-body/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“How is it that you can see your enemies so clearly and never your friends?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/how-is-it-that-you-can-see-your-enemies-so-clearly-and-never-your/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“It would take entire lifetimes for the men of Carthya to deserve their women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/it-would-take-entire-lifetimes-for-the-men-of-carthya-to-deserve/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“If I was going to fight this beast — regardless of how poor my chances were — I needed the use of both hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/if-i-was-going-to-fight-this-beast-regardless-of-how-poor-my-chances/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“I replied with an Avenian accent. "Is the priest of this church still here?" "No." He squinted at me. "Never seen you before. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/i-replied-with-an-avenian-accent-is-the-priest-of-this-church-still/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“One of the greatest kings?” My smile widened. “That’s it? Why not the greatest?” “This will only make your arrogance worse, I’m sure.” “Really?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/one-of-the-greatest-kings-my-smile-widened-that-s-it-why-not-the/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) [Explore all 91 Jennifer A. Nielsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) ## More Doing the right thing quotes > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [Money will come to you when you are doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phillips/money-will-come-to-you-when-you-are-doing-the-right-thing/) [Michael Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phillips/) > [It's all about doing the right things at the right times and I believe I can win everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-cross/it-s-all-about-doing-the-right-things-at-the-right-times-and-i/) [Rob Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-cross/) > [You should never be proud of doing the right thing. You should just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/you-should-never-be-proud-of-doing-the-right-thing-you-should-just-do/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [“Management is about doing things right; leadership is about doing the right things. Peter Drucker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-banfield/management-is-about-doing-things-right-leadership-is-about-doing-the/) [Richard Banfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-banfield/) > [There are certain things that we can deal with by following the rules. But at times, we find the rules restrict you from doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/there-are-certain-things-that-we-can-deal-with-by-following-the-rules/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [Never let making a profit stand in the way of doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-jenkins/never-let-making-a-profit-stand-in-the-way-of-doing-the-right-thing/) [George W. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-jenkins/) > [“Doing the right thing causes us to stand taller, dance more often, and step into life with more confidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patsy-clairmont/doing-the-right-thing-causes-us-to-stand-taller-dance-more-often-and/) [Patsy Clairmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patsy-clairmont/) > [“Health, peace of mind, peak performance, and success in any area of life all depend upon doing the right thing at the right time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobe-hanson/health-peace-of-mind-peak-performance-and-success-in-any-area-of-life/) [Tobe Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobe-hanson/) > [Sometimes you have to steer away from the crowd in order to be a better person. It's not always easy, that's for sure. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/sometimes-you-have-to-steer-away-from-the-crowd-in-order-to-be-a/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [Doing the right thing at all costs is an absolute, and only a sith deals in absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/doing-the-right-thing-at-all-costs-is-an-absolute-and-only-a-sith/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [ \[If\] we can celebrate that in a way that celebrates our love for New England as well as our love for the Italian culture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/if-we-can-celebrate-that-in-a-way-that-celebrates-our-love-for-new/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [“What sort of man could you love for a lifetime?" he asked her. She was silent for a while. He guessed that she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/what-sort-of-man-could-you-love-for-a-lifetime-he-asked-her-she-was/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [Sometimes you cannot do anything because the guy in front of you is playing well and he's doing the right things to make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-wilfried-tsonga/sometimes-you-cannot-do-anything-because-the-guy-in-front-of-you-is/) [Jo-Wilfried Tsonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-wilfried-tsonga/) > [Being trustworthy requires: Doing the right thing. And doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-peppers/being-trustworthy-requires-doing-the-right-thing-and-doing-things/) [Don Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-peppers/) [Browse all 619 Doing the right thing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-right-thing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I follow my orders without question, as a good soldier would. You ask the same from your soldiers.' 'No, I ask them to be good people. That way if they follow my orders, I will know I am doing the right thing.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jennifer A. 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