Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot (Hoover Institution Press Publication Book 431)

by James B. Stockdale

The key to our future leaders’ merit may not be “hanging in there” when the light at the end of the tunnel is expected. It will be their performance when it looks like the light will never show up.

The sad fact is that today such artful dodging of controversial questions is the road to reelection.

First commit the nation; then commit the troops.”

To a Stoic, there is no such thing as being a “victim”; you can only be a “victim” of yourself.

“Remember, you are an actor in a drama of such sort as the Author chooses—if short, then in a short one; if long, then in a long one. If it be his pleasure that you should enact a poor man, or a cripple, or a ruler, see that you act it well. For this is your business—to act well the given part, but to choose it belongs to Another.

“If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being, and who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”