Colin Powell

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today."

"Courage is not the absence of fear; it's moving forward despite it."

"Lead by example, not by mandate."

"Understanding comes from listening more than from speaking."

"Success is not about individual achievement; it's about collective accomplishment."

"The greatest teacher is experience, if you're willing to learn from it."

"You shape the future with the choices you make today."

"A leader who loses credibility loses everything."

"Dedication to service transcends personal ambition."

"The problems we face are solvable if we approach them with wisdom and will."

"A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work."

"You don't know what you can do until you try."

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

"My own view is that when I am elected, I hope to become a successful American President who happens to be African American."

"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier."

"The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them."

"Don't bother people for small decisions and don't bother them for small complaints."

"Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room."

"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little things."

"Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher."

"Confidence is a very fragile thing."

"The most important thing is to have a vision for where you want to go."

"Organization is power."

"I think we have the finest military in the world. I'm not prejudiced."

"Don't ever become a pessimist. A pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun."

"Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody understands."

"My parents instilled in me a passion for public service and a commitment to the kind of values that can help transform lives."

"I learned that in order to gain respect, I had to learn to lead by example."

"Use your power to lift others up, not tear them down."

"You must always show respect and appreciation for your team."