In my life as a soldier and citizen, I have seen time and time again that inaction has dire consequences.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
I was raised to believe that soldiers were strong and wise and brave and faithful; they didn't lie, cheat, steal or abandon their comrades.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the values of integrity and bravery instilled in soldiers.
In this quote, Stanley A. McChrystal reflects on the foundational beliefs about soldiers, emphasizing their attributes of strength, wisdom, bravery, and faithfulness. He suggests that these qualities are integral to their identity, portraying them as individuals who uphold moral values and loyalty, thereby creating high expectations for character and conduct within military service.
Themes
SoldiersIntegrityBraveryValuesLoyalty
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared in a speech to honor veterans at a memorial service.
More from Stanley A. Mcchrystal
All quotes →I was raised with traditional stories of leadership: Robert E. Lee, John Buford at Gettysburg. And I also was raised with personal examples of leadership. This was my father in Vietnam. And I was raised to believe that soldiers were strong and wise and brave and faithful; they didn't lie, cheat, steal, or abandon their comrades.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
When you go through some controversy and you see your face on the news in a negative way for 48 hours... you doubt yourself. And your friends make the difference. They become a safety net that come in and say, 'That's not the case.' And the relationships that you've built... come to the fore.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
The basic DNA we've got to implant in leaders now is adaptability: not to get wedded to the solution to a particular problem, because not only the problem but the solution changes day to day. Creating people who are hardwired for that is going to be our challenge for the future.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
If every soldier is authorized to make one mistake, then we lose the war.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
Many leaders are tempted to lead like a chess master, striving to control every move, when they should be leading like gardeners, creating and maintaining a viable ecosystem in which the organization operates.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
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