--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am convinced that the best service a…" description: "\"I am convinced that the best service a retired general can perform is to turn in his tongue along with his suit and to mothball his opinions.\" — Omar N..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/omar-n-bradley-16077_convinced_i-am-convinced-that-the-best-service-a-r_1254174.png" --- # I am convinced that the best service a retired general can… ![“I am convinced that the best service a retired general can perform is to turn in his tongue along with his suit and to mothball his opinions.” quote by Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/omar-n-bradley-16077_convinced_i-am-convinced-that-the-best-service-a-r_1254174.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/omar-n-bradley-16077_convinced_i-am-convinced-that-the-best-service-a-r_1254174.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/omar-n-bradley-16077_convinced_i-am-convinced-that-the-best-service-a-r_1254174.png) > “I am convinced that the best service a retired general can perform is to turn in his tongue along with his suit and to mothball his opinions.” [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Retired leaders should withdraw from public discourse, allowing new voices to shape policy. **In simple terms:** Silence can be a service. Key Takeaway Step back, let others lead. Themes leadership humility legacy Mood thoughtful serious Type advisory reflective When to use this quote - political commentary - media appearances - advisory roles Key Concepts public discourse military ethics civic duty Questions to Reflect On - When is speaking out more necessary? - How to balance experience with fresh perspectives? A Different Perspective Silence may for valuable insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [If you want an expert on war, you get a retired general. I'm not exactly a general, but I am retired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-biddle-barrows/if-you-want-an-expert-on-war-you-get-a-retired-general-i-m-not/) [Sydney Biddle Barrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-biddle-barrows/) > [I am convinced that the best learning takes place when the learner takes charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-papert/i-am-convinced-that-the-best-learning-takes-place-when-the-learner/) [Seymour Papert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-papert/) > [One must turn the tongue seven times in the mouth before speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/one-must-turn-the-tongue-seven-times-in-the-mouth-before-speaking/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [ I'm not sure what \[my latest works are\] about but I'm convinced they're the best things I've done and I'm going to the world's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kostabi/i-m-not-sure-what-my-latest-works-are-about-but-i-m-convinced-they-re/) [Mark Kostabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kostabi/) > [“Turn your tongue seven times before speaking. This way you'll have time to think if you ought to say the things you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaddey-ratner/turn-your-tongue-seven-times-before-speaking-this-way-you-ll-have/) [Vaddey Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaddey-ratner/) > [My grandfather is a retired Marine, and I've always had a great deal of respect for anyone who serves our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-pickler/my-grandfather-is-a-retired-marine-and-i-ve-always-had-a-great-deal/) [Kellie Pickler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-pickler/) > [If you are an investor who's retired and hopes to live off the income that your portfolio is generating, then we would focus just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/if-you-are-an-investor-who-s-retired-and-hopes-to-live-off-the-income/) [James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/) > [I am surprised that many people disregard the fact that the end for almost all drug dealers ends up being the cemetery or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-pablo-escobar/i-am-surprised-that-many-people-disregard-the-fact-that-the-end-for/) [Juan Pablo Escobar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-pablo-escobar/) > [Old ladies in wheelchairs with blankets over their legs, I don't think so...retired mermaids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-jones/old-ladies-in-wheelchairs-with-blankets-over-their-legs-i-don-t-think/) [Milton Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-jones/) > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I retired one year in 1959. But then I realized I wanted to play more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-retired-one-year-in-1959-but-then-i-realized-i-wanted-to-play-more/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [I don't do plays without jokes anymore. I've retired from those plays. I think it's bad manners to invite people to sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-don-t-do-plays-without-jokes-anymore-i-ve-retired-from-those-plays/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [I want to concentrate on winning things with Barcelona and Argentina. Then if people want to say nice things about me when I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-want-to-concentrate-on-winning-things-with-barcelona-and-argentina/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [I've retired my sneakers for stilettos, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivica-a-fox/i-ve-retired-my-sneakers-for-stilettos-baby/) [Vivica A. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivica-a-fox/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) ## More by Omar N. Bradley > [Each player on this team whether he shines in the spotlight or eats dirt on the line, must be an All-American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/each-player-on-this-team-whether-he-shines-in-the-spotlight-or-eats/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [Our humanity is trapped by moral adolescents. We have too many men of science, too few men of God. The world has achieved brilliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/our-humanity-is-trapped-by-moral-adolescents-we-have-too-many-men-of/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [The greatest leader in the world could never win a campaign unless he understood the men he had to lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/the-greatest-leader-in-the-world-could-never-win-a-campaign-unless-he/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [Muddy language is not confined to policies alone. Each of you has seen replies to simple questions in which the meaning was lost through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/muddy-language-is-not-confined-to-policies-alone-each-of-you-has-seen/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [In war there is no second prize for the runner-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/in-war-there-is-no-second-prize-for-the-runner-up/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [The greatness of a leader is measured by the achievements of the led. This is the ultimate test of his effectiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/the-greatness-of-a-leader-is-measured-by-the-achievements-of-the-led/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [The nation needs men who think in terms of service to their country and not in terms of their country's debt to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/the-nation-needs-men-who-think-in-terms-of-service-to-their-country/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [The way to win an atomic war is to make certain it never starts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/the-way-to-win-an-atomic-war-is-to-make-certain-it-never-starts/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [Leadership means firmness, not harshness or bullying; understanding, not weakness; justice, not irresponsible freedom; humaneness, not intolerance; generosity, not selfishness; pride, not egotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/leadership-means-firmness-not-harshness-or-bullying-understanding-not/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [We live in a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants, in a world that has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/we-live-in-a-world-of-nuclear-giants-and-ethical-infants-in-a-world/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [Only one military organization can hold and gain ground in war-a ground army supported by tactical aviation with supply lines guarded by the navy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/only-one-military-organization-can-hold-and-gain-ground-in-war-a/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [Set your course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/set-your-course-by-the-stars-not-by-the-lights-of-every-passing-ship/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [It seems very unfortunate that in order to secure political preference, people are made Vice President who are never intended, neither by party nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/it-seems-very-unfortunate-that-in-order-to-secure-political/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/we-know-more-about-war-than-we-know-about-peace-more-about-killing/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [America today is running on the momentum of a godly ancestry, and when that momentum runs down, God help America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/america-today-is-running-on-the-momentum-of-a-godly-ancestry-and-when/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) [Explore all 41 Omar N. Bradley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) ## More Convinced quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [I'm convinced I will be cleared of all these charges that were unfairly leveled against me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-estrada/i-m-convinced-i-will-be-cleared-of-all-these-charges-that-were/) [Joseph Estrada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-estrada/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm convinced the fall of Aleppo will not end the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federica-mogherini/i-m-convinced-the-fall-of-aleppo-will-not-end-the-war/) [Federica Mogherini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federica-mogherini/) > [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [In high school I had sex with girls quite a few times. They were straight women who I convinced to jump in the sack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-de-rossi/in-high-school-i-had-sex-with-girls-quite-a-few-times-they-were/) [Portia de Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-de-rossi/) > [Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/adults-look-upon-a-child-as-something-empty-that-is-to-be-filled/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [ The fact that an Englishman has an Argentinian as an idol is very rare. I keep watching my \[title-winning\] goal against QPR and every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aguero/the-fact-that-an-englishman-has-an-argentinian-as-an-idol-is-very/) [Sergio Aguero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aguero/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [I'm not convinced that the world is in any worse shape than it ever was. It's just that in this age of almost instantaneous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/i-m-not-convinced-that-the-world-is-in-any-worse-shape-than-it-ever/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [“I become convinced that you have to live in the world to say anything meaningful about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-garc-a/i-become-convinced-that-you-have-to-live-in-the-world-to-say-anything/) [Cristina García](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-garc-a/) Browse all 1,815 Convinced quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am convinced that the best service a retired general can perform is to turn in his tongue along with his suit and to mothball his opinions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Omar N. 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