If everybody trusts one another, then the person who didn't prevail will faithfully execute the decision as if it was their idea.

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.

Don't just count your days, make your days count.

Even the greatest of all strategists must occasionally take into account the presence of an enemy.

But just as they did in Philadelphia when they were writing the constitution, sooner or later, you've got to compromise. You've got to start making the compromises that arrive at a consensus and move the country forward.

It is the fault of the United States that these terrible people, these insurgents and terrorists are out there. They are the ones that we ought to be focusing our energy on defeating and not just wring our hands about the fact that it's going to be difficult.

Actually, there is no more important task for a leader than to pick people. To make sure you have the very best people working for you.