To become an ace a fighter must have extraordinary eyesight, strength, and agility, a huntsman's eye, coolness in a pinch, calculated recklessness, a full measure of courage and occasional luck!
Jimmy DoolittleRead
Adolf Galland said that the day we took our fighters off the bombers and put them against the German fighters, that is, went from defensive to offsensive, Germany lost the air war. I made that decision and it was my most important decision during World War II. As you can imagine, the bomber crews were upset. The fighter pilots were ecstatic.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Making pivotal strategic decisions can determine the outcome of a conflict or challenge.
This quote reflects on a crucial decision made during World War II that shifted the focus from defense to offense, illustrating how leadership and strategic choices can significantly impact the course of events. It highlights the differing perspectives of various stakeholders, showcasing how tough decisions often elicit mixed reactions among those affected.
Themes
LeadershipDecisionsStrategyWorld War IiOffensive
In practice
Example use cases
When discussing the importance of decisive leadership in a team meeting.
More from Jimmy Doolittle
All quotes →The first lesson is that you can't lose a war if you have command of the air, and you can't win a war if you haven't.
Jimmy DoolittleRead
Similar quotes
Women in Washington - and in positions of power anywhere - should be subjected to the same criticisms and held to the same standards as men. That does not include the assumption that any successful woman has attained her position through flattery, feminine wiles, or her ability to provide maternal comfort to a more powerful man.
Donna BrazileRead
For organizations seriously committed to making teamwork a cultural reality, I'm convinced that 'the right people' are the ones who have three virtues in common - humility, hunger, and people smarts.
Patrick LencioniRead
There's some evidence that if you're recruiting, you tend to recruit a mini-me. Then you have a very comfortable group round a table. You all think alike. You agree. People are arguing that the banking crisis was because too many of the relevant bodies were thinkalikes, and that if they'd had more diversity, maybe it wouldn't have happened.
Jocelyn Bell BurnellRead
And I will do everything that I can as long as I am President of the United States to remind the American people that we are one nation under God, and we may call that God different names but we remain one nation.
Barack ObamaRead
It's not the great stars that win; it's the great teams that win. It's the teams that subjugate their ego to the team and put the team first.
Robert KraftRead
The reason we are here is thinking, 'What can we do to make this club a better club?' I don't want the guys to think about what the club can do for them.
Pep GuardiolaRead