Intelligence is not all that important in the exercise of power, and is often, in point of fact, useless.
Interpretation
Power does not always require intelligence and can sometimes thrive without it.
This quote suggests that intelligence may not be a crucial factor in effectively wielding power. In many political and leadership contexts, the ability to influence, manipulate, or control may overshadow intelligence as a necessary tool for success. Kissinger implies that those in power often operate based on practical considerations rather than intellectual capability, pointing out the complexities and perhaps flaws in leadership dynamics.
In practice
In a speech about political strategy, one might say, 'As Kissinger noted, intelligence is not all that important in the exercise of power.'
Every civilization that has ever existed has ultimately collapsed. History is a tale of efforts that failed, or aspirations that werenβt realized. So, as a historian, one has to live with a sense of the inevitability of tragedy.
Blessed are the people whose leaders can look destiny in the eye without flinching but also without attempting to play God.
It was a Greek tragedy. Nixon was fulfilling his own nature. Once it started it could not end otherwise.
The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously.
If peace is equated simply with the absence of war, it can become abject pacifism that turns the world over to the most ruthless.
What political leaders decide, intelligence services tend to seek to justify.
Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by it.
Inspiring conduct has so much more of an impact than coercing it.
An effective leader develops the ability to correctly identify the pertinent detail or details - incidentals in a market, industry or sport that might create an incremental advantage.
In the old world of business, there was often just one seat at the leadership table for women, two at best. That meant that only so many women could advance. But in a world where women recognize the power that they own - and where technology can upend the traditional rules of engagement - one woman winning doesn't mean another loses.
A director makes 100 decisions an hour. Students ask me how you know how to make the right decision, and I say to them, 'If you don't know how to make the right decision, you're not a director.'
We must acknowledge that there are factions in our movements... We should not be telling lies to each other; we should tell the truth to each other with the view that there will be unity.
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