I don't think any president that I worked with has ever said 'pretty please.' Robert M. Gates presidentprettywork Change image and share on social
If Poindexter made a comment to me like that, it would have been in the context of once the authorized program is approved there would be no point in having any of these private benefactors any longer. Robert M. Gates approveauthorizebenefactor share on social
There's a lot of books out there about how you lead change in business, but I've certainly not seen any... on how you do that in public institutions. Robert M. Gates bookbusinesschange Change image and share on social
I've been very sensitive for a long time to the repeated pattern, during economic hard times or after a war, of the United States' essentially unilaterally disarming. Robert M. Gates disarmeconomicessentially Change image and share on social
Most governments lie to each other. That's the way business gets done. Robert M. Gates businessgovernmentlie Change image and share on social
The United States has been a global power since late in the 19th century. Robert M. Gates 19thcenturyglobal Change image and share on social
If Iraq and Afghanistan have taught us anything in recent history, it is the unpredictability of war and that these things are easier to get into than to get out of, and, frankly, the facile way in which too many people talk about, 'Well, let's just go attack them.' Robert M. Gates afghanistanattackeasy share on social
Even when I was at CIA, I'd go to visit foreign leaders and I'd say, 'You know, I'm not a diplomat. I'm just an old CIA guy'... I said, 'If I wanted to be diplomatic, I'd have been a diplomat.' Robert M. Gates ciadiplomatdiplomatic Change image and share on social
There is no international problem that can be addressed or solved without the engagement and leadership of the United States and everybody in the world knows that, its just fact of life. So sometimes I think we could conduct ourselves with a little more humility. Robert M. Gates addressconductengagement share on social
