Advice Quote by Joseph Dunford
“I think that it's very important that whoever is in office can trust the U.S. military to provide him with advice in private so that advice is not then used by somebody to try to criticize the president or try to influence the outcome.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington D.C., 2015
Leaders need confidential military counsel to avoid political misuse of advice and preserve objective decision‑making.
In simple terms: Presidents should get private, unbiased military advice.
Key Takeaway
Seek confidential counsel, keep advice out of politics.
Themes
leadership
civil‑military relations
transparency
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
political
strategic
When to use this quote
- executive decision‑making
- policy formulation
- crisis management
- legislative oversight
Key Concepts
civil‑military balance
advice integrity
political neutrality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders ensure advice remains impartial?
- What safeguards protect against political weaponization of counsel?
A Different Perspective
Advice may be ignored or politicized despite confidentiality.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
