There is only one 'retirement plan' for terrorists.
Jim MattisRead
I've had some 'riotous excursions of the human spirit' alongside the young Sailors and Marines, and it's time to leave the stage to the young leaders who got their rank the old-fashioned way - they earned their stripes in combat.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of youth and experience in leadership roles.
In this quote, Jim Mattis reflects on his experiences alongside younger Sailors and Marines, acknowledging their capabilities and the traditional process through which they earned their ranks. He suggests that it is time for these young leaders, who have proven themselves in challenging situations, to take charge and lead the next generation, highlighting the value of experience and the transition of power to those who have been tested in combat.
In practice
During a graduation speech to military cadets, this quote could inspire them to embrace future leadership roles.
There is only one 'retirement plan' for terrorists.
There are hunters, and there are victims. By your discipline, cunning, obedience, and alertness, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.
Now from a distance, I look back on what the Corps taught me: to think like men of action, and to act like men of thought!
I believe that many of my young guys lived because I didn't waste their lives because I didn't have the vision in my mind of how to destroy the enemy at least cost to our guys and to the innocents on the battlefields.
For whatever trauma came with service in tough circumstances, we should take what we learned - take our post-traumatic growth - and, like past generations coming home, bring our sharpened strengths to bear, bring our attitude of gratitude to bear.
Policy makers who have never served in the military continue to use the military to lead social change in this country.
I am sure that the mistakes of that time will not be repeated; we should probably make another set of mistakes.
Most executives I know are so action-oriented, or action-addicted, that time for reflection is the first casualty of their success.
Whenever Roosevelt (Theodore) expected a visitor, he sat up late the night before, reading up on the subject in which he knew his guest was particularly interested. For Roosevelt knew, all the leaders royal road to a person's heart is to talk about the things he or she treasures most.
When I was a young man, I was poor. In a war with other nations, I was in eighty-seven fights. There I received my name and was made Chief of my nation. But now I am old and am for peace.
A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be.
At least there's a political input, but when you put on the robe, at that point the politics is over.
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