--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that it's very important that…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/joseph-dunford-24804_advice_i-think-that-it-s-very-important-that-wh_793359.jpg" --- # I think that it's very important that whoever is in office… ![“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.” quote by Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/joseph-dunford-24804_advice_i-think-that-it-s-very-important-that-wh_793359.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/joseph-dunford-24804_advice_i-think-that-it-s-very-important-that-wh_793359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/joseph-dunford-24804_advice_i-think-that-it-s-very-important-that-wh_793359.jpg) > “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.” [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [It's not for me to give anybody advice about their private life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul/it-s-not-for-me-to-give-anybody-advice-about-their-private-life/) [Raul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul/) > [You cannot prevent a major catastrophe, but you can build an organization that is battle-ready, where people trust one another. In military training, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/you-cannot-prevent-a-major-catastrophe-but-you-can-build-an/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, I watched helplessly as the Bush administration led America into a strategic blunder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-sanchez/in-the-aftermath-of-the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11-2001-i/) [Ricardo Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-sanchez/) > [I do not deal in any confidential information. What I do is provide advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stockwell-day/i-do-not-deal-in-any-confidential-information-what-i-do-is-provide/) [Stockwell Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stockwell-day/) > [My younger sister looks to me to provide her with advice on how to do her job better - though she's too shy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/my-younger-sister-looks-to-me-to-provide-her-with-advice-on-how-to-do/) [W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/) > [I'd be happy to provide advice if anybody asked me no matter who the President is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/i-d-be-happy-to-provide-advice-if-anybody-asked-me-no-matter-who-the/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [There is a time to provide advice and offer an opinion, and there is a time not to. Don't be too quick to offer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/there-is-a-time-to-provide-advice-and-offer-an-opinion-and-there-is-a/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Eventually I will own my own company and will provide advice to athletes and artists from the entertainment industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eniola-aluko/eventually-i-will-own-my-own-company-and-will-provide-advice-to/) [Eniola Aluko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eniola-aluko/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Life is not about how much you have but how much you have affect others life positively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-not-about-how-much-you-have-but-how-much-you-have-affect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) ## More by Joseph Dunford > [I'm an implementer of policy, not a maker of policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/i-m-an-implementer-of-policy-not-a-maker-of-policy/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [There's no substitute for taking a clear-eyed look at the threats we'll face and asking how our force will adapt to meet those threats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/there-s-no-substitute-for-taking-a-clear-eyed-look-at-the-threats-we/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [In my judgment, us assisting the Chinese military in advancing technologically is not in U.S. national interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/in-my-judgment-us-assisting-the-chinese-military-in-advancing/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [When you have to make a choice between capacity and capability, I would go with capability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/when-you-have-to-make-a-choice-between-capacity-and-capability-i/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [The work that Google is doing in China is indirectly benefiting the Chinese military. Indirect may not be a full characterization of the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/the-work-that-google-is-doing-in-china-is-indirectly-benefiting-the/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [We have a strong tradition in our country of senior leaders being apolitical, nonpartisan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/we-have-a-strong-tradition-in-our-country-of-senior-leaders-being/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [Competition doesn't have to be conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/competition-doesn-t-have-to-be-conflict/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [My sense is that General Kayani recognises that a stable and secure Afghanistan is in the best interests of Pakistan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/my-sense-is-that-general-kayani-recognises-that-a-stable-and-secure/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [What we are doing in the Pacific is we're flying, operating, and sailing wherever international law allows, and the purpose of that is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/what-we-are-doing-in-the-pacific-is-we-re-flying-operating-and/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [When you start to look at completing the development of a modern professional army, when you talk about maturing a democracy, when you talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/when-you-start-to-look-at-completing-the-development-of-a-modern/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [You can't have force structure without proper training, without proper equipment, without proper leadership, without proper funding to conduct exercises and perform maintenance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/you-can-t-have-force-structure-without-proper-training-without-proper/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [From my perspective, to really be ready, we can't afford to have these deep degradations in readiness associated with personnel turbulence post-deployment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/from-my-perspective-to-really-be-ready-we-can-t-afford-to-have-these/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [The only one I can be sure will say something nice about me is my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/the-only-one-i-can-be-sure-will-say-something-nice-about-me-is-my/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [If we're going to grow capacity, you need to do it in a way where it is meaningful capability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/if-we-re-going-to-grow-capacity-you-need-to-do-it-in-a-way-where-it/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [I think the morale of Taliban fighters has been affected adversely as a result of the lack of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/i-think-the-morale-of-taliban-fighters-has-been-affected-adversely-as/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) [Explore all 24 Joseph Dunford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) ## 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. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. 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He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Dunford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/i-think-that-it-s-very-important-that-whoever-is-in-office-can-trust/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/i-think-that-it-s-very-important-that-whoever-is-in-office-can-trust/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/joseph-dunford-24804_advice_i-think-that-it-s-very-important-that-wh_793359.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/joseph-dunford-24804_advice_i-think-that-it-s-very-important-that-wh_793359.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/joseph-dunford-24804_advice_i-think-that-it-s-very-important-that-wh_793359.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that it's very important that whoever is in office can trust the U.S. military to provide him with…” — Joseph Dunford", "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": "Joseph Dunford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that it's very important...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/i-think-that-it-s-very-important-that-whoever-is-in-office-can-trust/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/i-think-that-it-s-very-important-that-whoever-is-in-office-can-trust/#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 } } ] } ```