--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My goodness, what we want in a leader is…" description: "\"My goodness, what we want in a leader is someone with judgment, not someone who is so reckless as to stand on the stage and say, \"Yes, I'm jumping up a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/rand-paul-606_facts_my-goodness-what-we-want-in-a-leader-is_2215540.jpg" --- # My goodness, what we want in a leader is someone with… ![“My goodness, what we want in a leader is someone with judgment, not someone who is so reckless as to stand on the stage and say, "Yes, I'm jumping up and down; I'm going to shoot down Russian planes." Russia already flies in that airspace. It may not be something we're in love with the fact that…” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/rand-paul-606_facts_my-goodness-what-we-want-in-a-leader-is_2215540.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/rand-paul-606_facts_my-goodness-what-we-want-in-a-leader-is_2215540.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/rand-paul-606_facts_my-goodness-what-we-want-in-a-leader-is_2215540.jpg) > “My goodness, what we want in a leader is someone with judgment, not someone who is so reckless as to stand on the stage and say, "Yes, I'm jumping up and down; I'm going to shoot down Russian planes." Russia already flies in that airspace. It may not be something we're in love with the fact that they're there, but they were invited by Iraq and by Syria to fly in that airspace.” [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A leader should exercise prudent judgment rather than make reckless, inflammatory statements that could provoke conflict. **In simple terms:** Leaders need wise judgment, not reckless bravado. Key Takeaway Prioritize thoughtful decision‑making. Themes leadership judgment responsibility Mood cautious critical Type political advisory When to use this quote - policy debate - international diplomacy - public statements Key Concepts political rhetoric risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders balance firmness with caution? - What are the risks of inflammatory rhetoric? A Different Perspective Reckless remarks can undermine credibility and safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Invited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invited/) [Invited Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invited-iraq-4923628/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Jumping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jumping/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Planes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planes/) [Planes Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planes-russia-4923627/) [Reckless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reckless/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Russia Flies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia-flies-4923626/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Syria Fly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria-fly-2233805/) [Up and down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up-and-down/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-leader/) ## Related quotes > [In Syria, a no-fly zone targeted at Assad's air force and safe zones for refugees fleeing the fighting would help tamp down the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/in-syria-a-no-fly-zone-targeted-at-assad-s-air-force-and-safe-zones/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [Listen, Mr. President, there's a no-fly zone in Syria. You fly in, it applies to you. And, yes, we would shoot down the planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/listen-mr-president-there-s-a-no-fly-zone-in-syria-you-fly-in-it/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [Everything that I do, I put my teammates first. To me, that's the mark of a true leader. That's what I want to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/everything-that-i-do-i-put-my-teammates-first-to-me-that-s-the-mark/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [“What most people want in a leader is something that’s very difficult to find: we want someone who listens. Why”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/what-most-people-want-in-a-leader-is-something-that-s-very-difficult/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I would not want to be a leader of a country that had launched ICBMs against the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/i-would-not-want-to-be-a-leader-of-a-country-that-had-launched-icbms/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [I think if Donald Trump should become commander in chief, we all want that in a leader, somebody who is able to fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-think-if-donald-trump-should-become-commander-in-chief-we-all-want/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [“Most of the people want to be a leader of winners, but I want to be a leader of losers because losers are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gk-dutta/most-of-the-people-want-to-be-a-leader-of-winners-but-i-want-to-be-a/) [GK Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gk-dutta/) > [If you want to be a leader, the first person you have to lead is yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-scioscia/if-you-want-to-be-a-leader-the-first-person-you-have-to-lead-is/) [Mike Scioscia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-scioscia/) > [I don't want to be a follower; I want to be a leader and create new waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-balvin/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-follower-i-want-to-be-a-leader-and-create-new/) [J Balvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-balvin/) > [Being here in NXT, I want to be the leader, the top girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-royce/being-here-in-nxt-i-want-to-be-the-leader-the-top-girl/) [Peyton Royce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-royce/) > [I don't want to be a leader that is one-dimensional or two-dimensional because he's not willing to be open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-parker/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-leader-that-is-one-dimensional-or-two/) [Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) > [I welcome the responsibility of being a key player. I want to put on a show every week. I want to be a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/i-welcome-the-responsibility-of-being-a-key-player-i-want-to-put-on-a/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [“You're a hero here.' 'I don't want to be a hero.' 'What do you want?' 'I want to be a leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/you-re-a-hero-here-i-don-t-want-to-be-a-hero-what-do-you-want-i-want/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) > [If you want to be a leader of people, you must learn to watch events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/if-you-want-to-be-a-leader-of-people-you-must-learn-to-watch-events/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I just want to be a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-rozier/i-just-want-to-be-a-leader/) [Terry Rozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-rozier/) ## More by Rand Paul > [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. 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I think it's a mistake to say, hey, guys, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-have-handled-it-differently-than-the-mayor-of-baltimore-that/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We have to think before we act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-have-to-think-before-we-act/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would introduce and support legislation to send Roe v. Wade back to the states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-introduce-and-support-legislation-to-send-roe-v-wade-back-to/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [President Obama, I think, wanted what was best for the country, but I think it didn't work well. 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That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [What is history after all? 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