QuoteProject
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
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Retired generals should refrain from sharing their opinions publicly to avoid influencing current affairs.

Omar N. Bradley's quote suggests that once a military leader retires, they should step back from public discourse, especially regarding their opinions on military and political matters. This implies that retired leaders may be less informed about the current situation and that their views could wrongly influence the ongoing strategies and decisions made by active leaders.

Themes

LeadershipRetirementOpinionsInfluenceStrategy

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about military strategy, one might quote Bradley to emphasize the importance of current active leaders maintaining authority.

More from Omar N. Bradley

We've learned how to destroy, but not to create; how to waste, but not to build; how to kill men, but not how to save them; how to die, but seldom how to live.
Omar N. BradleyRead
If you will help run our government in the American way, then there will never be any danger of our government running America in the wrong way.
Omar N. BradleyRead
Wars can be prevented just as surely as they can be provoked, and we who fail to prevent them must share the guilt for the dead.
Omar N. BradleyRead
The greatness of a leader is measured by the achievements of the led. This is the ultimate test of his effectiveness.
Omar N. BradleyRead
We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the sermon on the mount.
Omar N. BradleyRead
We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living.
Omar N. BradleyRead

Similar quotes

There is no worse mistake in public leadership than to hold out false hope soon to be swept away.
Winston ChurchillRead
I think the rule should be that if we're going to take actions overseas that result in the deaths of people, the United States should take responsibility for that.
John O. BrennanRead
If we knew how often the obedience of others is affected by our own, and how often our stepping forth soon brings forth a whole platton of helpers, and how often our speaking forth soon creates a chorus - we would be even more ashamed of our slackess and our silence.
Neal A. MaxwellRead
If you can influence the leaders, either with or without their conscious cooperation, you automatically influence the group which they sway.
Edward BernaysRead
A good jockey doesn't need orders and a bad jockey couldn't carry them out anyway; so it's best not to give them any.
Lester PiggottRead
It was better for me when I was joined at the court by a second woman. When I was there alone, there was too much media focus on the one woman, and the minute we got another woman, that changed.
Sandra Day O'ConnorRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.