--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was on the ground, I was in command, I…" description: "\"“I was on the ground, I was in command, I had been given the mission, and I took the decision.”\" — Roméo Dallaire" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/rom-o-dallaire-19132_goals_i-was-on-the-ground-i-was-in-command-i-h_1700459.jpg" --- # I was on the ground, I was in command, I had been given… ![“I was on the ground, I was in command, I had been given the mission, and I took the decision.” quote by Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/rom-o-dallaire-19132_goals_i-was-on-the-ground-i-was-in-command-i-h_1700459.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/rom-o-dallaire-19132_goals_i-was-on-the-ground-i-was-in-command-i-h_1700459.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/rom-o-dallaire-19132_goals_i-was-on-the-ground-i-was-in-command-i-h_1700459.jpg) > ““I was on the ground, I was in command, I had been given the mission, and I took the decision.”” [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) ## 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 recounts taking decisive command after being grounded, emphasizing responsibility and decision‑making under pressure. **In simple terms:** Leadership involves decisive action under pressure. Key Takeaway Own your decisions. Themes leadership responsibility decision‑making Mood serious reflective Type inspirational thoughtful When to use this quote - emergency response - project leadership Key Concepts crisis management military command Questions to Reflect On - What guides your choices in crisis? - How do you balance risk and duty? A Different Perspective Decisions can have unforeseen consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ## Related quotes > [The question is what I wanted to do with the new life God has given me. 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Kessler > [God created you to do him some particular service. He has given some work to you that he has not given to another. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/god-created-you-to-do-him-some-particular-service-he-has-given-some/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [It wasn't easy at all for a qualified engineer to take the decision of giving it up, leave Punjab and try to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-sood/it-wasn-t-easy-at-all-for-a-qualified-engineer-to-take-the-decision/) [Sonu Sood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-sood/) > [“How to know what God says is the time you took the decision. How to know what God says is what situation and condition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience-johnson/how-to-know-what-god-says-is-the-time-you-took-the-decision-how-to/) [Patience Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience-johnson/) > [From the first day I took the decision as President to defend my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/from-the-first-day-i-took-the-decision-as-president-to-defend-my/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [When a player leaves, it means all the parties involved took this decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/when-a-player-leaves-it-means-all-the-parties-involved-took-this/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [I didn't leave Barcelona in the best way but I took the decision to leave and I don't regret it. There were a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adama-traore/i-didn-t-leave-barcelona-in-the-best-way-but-i-took-the-decision-to/) [Adama Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adama-traore/) > [You took the decision to end our thing and I did not say a thing because I did not want to complicate the situation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kintu-steven/you-took-the-decision-to-end-our-thing-and-i-did-not-say-a-thing/) Kintu Steven > [I came back to Chelsea to stay. When I took my decision to come back here from Paris, it was to win the Premier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-luiz/i-came-back-to-chelsea-to-stay-when-i-took-my-decision-to-come-back/) [David Luiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-luiz/) > [I consciously took this decision of changing my image from a bahu. I just wanted to look different and good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hina-khan/i-consciously-took-this-decision-of-changing-my-image-from-a-bahu-i/) [Hina Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hina-khan/) > [“Many signs point to the fact that the youth of the Third World will no longer tolerate living in circumstances that give them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/many-signs-point-to-the-fact-that-the-youth-of-the-third-world-will/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [I know there is a God because in Rwanda I shook hands with the devil. I have seen him, I have smelled him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/i-know-there-is-a-god-because-in-rwanda-i-shook-hands-with-the-devil/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) ## More by Roméo Dallaire > [Is the human condition not defined by an endless struggle to control the ego's subterfuges?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/is-the-human-condition-not-defined-by-an-endless-struggle-to-control/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [I know there is a God because in Rwanda I shook hands with the devil. I have seen him, I have smelled him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/i-know-there-is-a-god-because-in-rwanda-i-shook-hands-with-the-devil/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [More and more, we have been able to present the argument that recruitment of child soldiers is a social breakdown that leads to atrocities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/more-and-more-we-have-been-able-to-present-the-argument-that/) [Romeo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [“Many signs point to the fact that the youth of the Third World will no longer tolerate living in circumstances that give them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/many-signs-point-to-the-fact-that-the-youth-of-the-third-world-will/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [“Still, I did not regret for a moment leaving the bright lights of Manhattan behind in favour of night skies so dark the stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/still-i-did-not-regret-for-a-moment-leaving-the-bright-lights-of/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [Are all humans human? Or are some more human than others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/are-all-humans-human-or-are-some-more-human-than-others/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [I felt it absolutely essential that we plant the U.N. flag in Rwanda and plant it in a place of significance to show all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/i-felt-it-absolutely-essential-that-we-plant-the-u-n-flag-in-rwanda/) [Romeo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [Death became a desired option. I hoped I would hit a mine or run into an ambush and just end it all. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/death-became-a-desired-option-i-hoped-i-would-hit-a-mine-or-run-into/) [Romeo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [Where you are born should not dictate your potential as a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/where-you-are-born-should-not-dictate-your-potential-as-a-human-being/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [“If I decide to make a career in the army, he said, I would never be rich, but I would live one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/if-i-decide-to-make-a-career-in-the-army-he-said-i-would-never-be/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [The night I flew out from Rwanda, I landed in Nairobi, and I was on my way back home, and my left side started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/the-night-i-flew-out-from-rwanda-i-landed-in-nairobi-and-i-was-on-my/) [Romeo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [The first breath of air of Africa - it felt like you were in another continent - you were, you were - and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/the-first-breath-of-air-of-africa-it-felt-like-you-were-in-another/) [Romeo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [Those who are mastering more and more the communications revolution, those who realize that there are no borders in the world, are the ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/those-who-are-mastering-more-and-more-the-communications-revolution/) [Romeo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [I think the only value of 'Hotel Rwanda' is the fact that it keeps the Rwandan genocide alive, but as far as content, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/i-think-the-only-value-of-hotel-rwanda-is-the-fact-that-it-keeps-the/) [Romeo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [Now is the time to take up the cause of the advancement of human rights for all and the moment is yours to grasp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/now-is-the-time-to-take-up-the-cause-of-the-advancement-of-human/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) [Explore all 32 Roméo Dallaire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was on the ground, I was in command, I had been given the mission, and I took the decision.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roméo Dallaire" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/i-was-on-the-ground-i-was-in-command-i-had-been-given-the-mission-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/i-was-on-the-ground-i-was-in-command-i-had-been-given-the-mission-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/rom-o-dallaire-19132_goals_i-was-on-the-ground-i-was-in-command-i-h_1700459.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/rom-o-dallaire-19132_goals_i-was-on-the-ground-i-was-in-command-i-h_1700459.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/rom-o-dallaire-19132_goals_i-was-on-the-ground-i-was-in-command-i-h_1700459.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was on the ground, I was in command, I had been given the mission, and I took the decision.” — Roméo Dallaire", "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": "Roméo Dallaire", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I was on the ground, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/i-was-on-the-ground-i-was-in-command-i-had-been-given-the-mission-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/i-was-on-the-ground-i-was-in-command-i-had-been-given-the-mission-and/#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 } } ] } ```