---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I'm looking for a leader who's gonna…"
description: "\"When I'm looking for a leader who's gonna sit across the negotiating table from a nuclear Iran, or who's gonna be intent on destroying ISIS, I couldn't..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/robert-jeffress-4866_find_when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonn_1734530.jpg"
---

#  When I'm looking for a leader who's gonna sit across the…

![“When I'm looking for a leader who's gonna sit across the negotiating table from a nuclear Iran, or who's gonna be intent on destroying ISIS, I couldn't care less about that leader's temperament or his tone or his vocabulary. Frankly, I want the meanest, toughest son of a gun I can find.” quote by Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/robert-jeffress-4866_find_when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonn_1734530.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/robert-jeffress-4866_find_when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonn_1734530.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/robert-jeffress-4866_find_when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonn_1734530.jpg)

> “When I'm looking for a leader who's gonna sit across the negotiating table from a nuclear Iran, or who's gonna be intent on destroying ISIS, I couldn't care less about that leader's temperament or his tone or his vocabulary. Frankly, I want the meanest, toughest son of a gun I can find.”

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He prioritizes a leader’s toughness over temperament when confronting extreme threats.

**In simple terms:** He wants a strong, uncompromising leader.

Key Takeaway

Value decisive strength.

Themes

leadership security conflict

Mood

serious urgent

Type

political strategic

When to use this quote

- diplomacy
- military strategy
- terrorism response
- policy making

Key Concepts

hardline assertiveness

Questions to Reflect On

- Is strength alone sufficient in negotiations?
- How does temperament affect crisis management?

A Different Perspective

Emphasizing toughness may overlook diplomatic nuance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Vocabulary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocabulary/)

## Related quotes

> [I've said I want the meanest, toughest SOB I can find to protect America. And so that's why Trump's tone doesn't bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-ve-said-i-want-the-meanest-toughest-sob-i-can-find-to-protect/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [When I'm looking for a leader who's going to fight ISIS and keep America secure, I don't want some meek and mild leader or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-going-to-fight-isis-and-keep/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [“After all, he'd been in the United States Army Special Forces, fuck you very much. You might take the man out of the SF,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kaye/after-all-he-d-been-in-the-united-states-army-special-forces-fuck-you/)

[Laura Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kaye/)

> [I believe that the people are looking for a leader who has experience, who has courage, who has vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-coon-come/i-believe-that-the-people-are-looking-for-a-leader-who-has-experience/)

Matthew Coon Come

> [People are looking for a leader independent of powerful, wealthy special interests that always push to the front of the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/people-are-looking-for-a-leader-independent-of-powerful-wealthy/)

[Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/)

> [When we buy somebody, we cut the head off. We keep the operators who are looking - I hate to use this term -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/when-we-buy-somebody-we-cut-the-head-off-we-keep-the-operators-who/)

[Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/)

> [When I joined Walmart, I just had a team mindset, but I look back on it now, and I realize some of those early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/when-i-joined-walmart-i-just-had-a-team-mindset-but-i-look-back-on-it/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [Whenever a high-profile leader dies, people immediately attempt to summarize that person's life in a sentence. Often, critics and commentators get caught up looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/whenever-a-high-profile-leader-dies-people-immediately-attempt-to/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

> [That's a tough thing when you've got a team that's looking at you as a leader and you're a rookie. You've got to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/that-s-a-tough-thing-when-you-ve-got-a-team-that-s-looking-at-you-as/)

[Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/)

> [“Caleb leaned forward in his seat. "So who's the meanest person you've ever arrested?" "What are you doing?" Nick gasped. Caleb cracked an evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/caleb-leaned-forward-in-his-seat-so-who-s-the-meanest-person-you-ve/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [It was the meanest moment of eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-was-the-meanest-moment-of-eternity/)

[Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/)

> [The meanest life is better than the most glorious death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-meanest-life-is-better-than-the-most-glorious-death/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [You go on these Internet blogs and people say the meanest things. I'm a normal person. Just because I'm in the spotlight doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayden-panettiere/you-go-on-these-internet-blogs-and-people-say-the-meanest-things-i-m/)

[Hayden Panettiere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayden-panettiere/)

> [I'm the most selfless person you can ever meet until you start playing your games around me and force me to turn into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/i-m-the-most-selfless-person-you-can-ever-meet-until-you-start/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [“Maybe you should be the victor, Haymitch. That would give you some time to grow a backbone." Hello again, meanest girl in town. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/maybe-you-should-be-the-victor-haymitch-that-would-give-you-some-time/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

## More by Robert Jeffress

> [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [I've said I want the meanest, toughest SOB I can find to protect America. And so that's why Trump's tone doesn't bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-ve-said-i-want-the-meanest-toughest-sob-i-can-find-to-protect/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God because it was made according to God's instructions. Cain, however, tried to approach God in his own way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/abel-s-sacrifice-was-accepted-by-god-because-it-was-made-according-to/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [Jesus was not this wimpy little guy who walked around munching sunflower seeds and saying nice things to people. The real Jesus of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/jesus-was-not-this-wimpy-little-guy-who-walked-around-munching/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [I believe there are going to be millions of Catholics in Heaven because they trusted in Christ as their savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-believe-there-are-going-to-be-millions-of-catholics-in-heaven/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [A candidate's faith is not the only consideration, but should be a major consideration in electing the president of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/a-candidate-s-faith-is-not-the-only-consideration-but-should-be-a/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [There are no perfect politicians - just as there are no perfect pastors or voters. We are all sinners in need of a Savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/there-are-no-perfect-politicians-just-as-there-are-no-perfect-pastors/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [If our faith is the most important part of our lives, then our religious views influence every other part of our lives, including our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/if-our-faith-is-the-most-important-part-of-our-lives-then-our/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [My wife and I have many friends that are gay, and we welcome LGBT people to attend our church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/my-wife-and-i-have-many-friends-that-are-gay-and-we-welcome-lgbt/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [Any tool that helps instill God's Word in the lives of people is something I can enthusiastically endorse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/any-tool-that-helps-instill-god-s-word-in-the-lives-of-people-is/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [These protesters, opposing me or our church, they're protesting the eternal Word of God, and guess what - they're not going to be successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/these-protesters-opposing-me-or-our-church-they-re-protesting-the/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [Most Americans know we are in a mess, and as they look at Donald Trump, they believe he is the one leader who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/most-americans-know-we-are-in-a-mess-and-as-they-look-at-donald-trump/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [While love is one of God's attributes, it's not his only attribute. God is also holy and just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/while-love-is-one-of-god-s-attributes-it-s-not-his-only-attribute-god/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [Of the seven billion people who reside on planet Earth, only 25% could, in the broadest sense of the word, be classified as "Christian"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/of-the-seven-billion-people-who-reside-on-planet-earth-only-25-could/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [If there is a great white throne judgment in which all unbelievers are going to be judged and sentenced to an eternity in hell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/if-there-is-a-great-white-throne-judgment-in-which-all-unbelievers/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

[Explore all 105 Robert Jeffress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

## More Find quotes

> [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/)

[Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/)

> [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/)

> [Consumers can choose organic cotton grown without pesticides, but it uses more water and requires more land than conventional crops. Organic cotton can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/consumers-can-choose-organic-cotton-grown-without-pesticides-but-it/)

[Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/)

> [You will find that the more successful the individual, the less inclined he is to make excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-joseph-schwartz/you-will-find-that-the-more-successful-the-individual-the-less/)

[David Joseph Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-joseph-schwartz/)

> [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/)

[Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/)

> [They will find somebody younger, somebody funnier, somebody more engaged. As long as the court genre is viable, people are going to be looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/they-will-find-somebody-younger-somebody-funnier-somebody-more/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-think-i-need-the-demons-in-order-to-write-but-the-demons-have-gone/)

[Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/)

> [I'm very fond of classical music, especially Mozart. I find it relaxes me and helps me concentrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guler-sabanci/i-m-very-fond-of-classical-music-especially-mozart-i-find-it-relaxes/)

[Guler Sabanci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guler-sabanci/)

> [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/)

[Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/)

> [Reading counts as partying, even if you're not enjoying it! Even if someone's forcing you to read, you can find a way to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/reading-counts-as-partying-even-if-you-re-not-enjoying-it-even-if/)

[Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/)

> [George Roy Hill, Redford, and I have been looking for a script to do together for 13 years. We haven't been able to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/george-roy-hill-redford-and-i-have-been-looking-for-a-script-to-do/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [People from all walks of life that you might find as a King Diamond fan - you don't look a certain way; you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-diamond/people-from-all-walks-of-life-that-you-might-find-as-a-king-diamond/)

[King Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-diamond/)

> [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/)

[Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/)

> [For me, I like to be different. I didn't want to imitate another wrestler. I always try to find something from other genres, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinsuke-nakamura/for-me-i-like-to-be-different-i-didn-t-want-to-imitate-another/)

[Shinsuke Nakamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinsuke-nakamura/)

> [For young people in the U.K. who find themselves without anywhere to live - perhaps they have left the family home after a relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/for-young-people-in-the-u-k-who-find-themselves-without-anywhere-to/)

[Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/)

Browse all 11,342 Find quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I'm looking for a leader who's gonna sit across the negotiating table from a nuclear Iran, or who's gonna be intent on destroying ISIS, I couldn't care less about that leader's temperament or his tone or his vocabulary. Frankly, I want the meanest, toughest son of a gun I can find.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Jeffress"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonna-sit-across-the-negotiating/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Find"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonna-sit-across-the-negotiating/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/robert-jeffress-4866_find_when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonn_1734530.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/robert-jeffress-4866_find_when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonn_1734530.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/robert-jeffress-4866_find_when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonn_1734530.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I'm looking for a leader who's gonna sit across the negotiating table from a nuclear Iran, or who's…” — Robert Jeffress",
                "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": "Robert Jeffress",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I'm looking for a leader...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonna-sit-across-the-negotiating/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/when-i-m-looking-for-a-leader-who-s-gonna-sit-across-the-negotiating/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
