"We all hoped in 2001 that we could put in place an Afghan government under President Karzai that would be able to control the country, make sure al-Qaeda didn't come back, and make sure the Taliban wasn't resurging. It didn't work out."

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This quotation examines the core nature of Politics as articulated by Colin Powell. Within historical and literary traditions, reflections on Politics provide actionable mental models, challenging individuals to evaluate personal ethics, self-discipline, and daily actions.

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About Colin Powell

Colin Luther Powell was an American U.S. Army general, diplomat, and statesman who served as the 65th United States secretary of state from 2001 to 2005, being the first Black American to hold the office, and was the highest-ranking Black American in the federal executive branch in American history until the election of Barack Obama as president in 2008. Initially politically independent, Powell joined the Republican Party in 1995, but left it in 2021 following the January 6 United States Capitol attack. He was the 15th national security advisor from 1987 to 1989, and the 12th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993.

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More by Colin Powell

"90 percent of my time is spent on 10 percent of the world."

— Colin Powell
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"Don't let your ego get too close to your position, so that if your position gets shot down, your ego doesn't go with it."

— Colin Powell
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"When you decide to get involved in a military operation in a place like Syria, you've got to be prepared, as we learned from Iraq and Afghanistan, to become the government, and I'm not sure any country, either the United States or I don't hear of anyone else, who's willing to take on that responsibility."

— Colin Powell
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"Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard."

— Colin Powell
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More about Politics

"I'm no expert on American politics."

— Bjorn Lomborg
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"Country music has always sort of been country music."

— Miranda Lambert
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"Some people put up a peace sign with one hand. Some people put up the middle finger instead. I use two hands and put up both."

— Brian Celio
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"I've traveled all over the country for years speaking in churches, teaching the Ten Commandments. It's amazing if 2 percent of any congregation knows the Ten Commandments."

— Randall Terry
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