I graduated from West Point in 1974. It was an all-male institution. I went back to teach at West Point in 1984 and found the place far better than it was when I had been a cadet… I attributed a good amount of that to the fact that we opened up the academy to women. Martin Dempsey Read Quote
A military leader should always understand, of all human endeavors… the one that’s the most unpredictable and the most costly is warfare. Martin Dempsey Read Quote
If someone uses the uniform, whatever uniform, for partisan politics, I am disappointed because I think it does erode that bond of trust we have with the American people. Martin Dempsey Read Quote
I’ve been in the group that believes it’s in our national interest to close Guantanamo. It does create a psychological scar on our national values. Whether it should or not, it does. Martin Dempsey Read Quote
My belief is that when the military is used as the sole instrument of power, that never has a good outcome. If there’s no one to take ownership and develop that failed state, human suffering can be even worse than that created by the conflict itself. Martin Dempsey Read Quote
What will eventually cause the defeat of ISIL is that it will collapse under its own contradictions, frankly. When the populations in which it tries to maneuver realize that that ideology is not to their future benefit. Martin Dempsey Read Quote
History will find some of you but not all of you. Because you can’t know which of you will make history, you must do your best to be ready. Martin Dempsey Read Quote
America is the world’s engine but also its conscience. We are the petri dish of diversity and inclusiveness. Martin Dempsey Read Quote
The America I know is trusted, sometimes guardedly, but among those who aspire to improve the lives of their citizens, among those who feel vulnerable, and among those who want an equal voice in a partnership, we remain the partner of choice. The America I know leads, sometimes cautiously, but always ethically. Martin Dempsey Read Quote
Sometimes we wait for thunderclaps, drumrolls, and clarion calls to alert us to what’s important when, actually, it’s most often the subtle and persistent signals around us that make the most difference. Martin Dempsey Read Quote
