Roger

“During the war I was always impressed with the necessity of keeping an open mind and of being receptive to the ideas of others,” he said. “We study military history for the lessons it has to teach us, but we must not expect necessarily to obtain from history the correct answers to future problems. Situations rarely repeat themselves, and preconceived solutions, which result in fitting the situation to the solution and not the solution to the situation, are apt to be dangerous or costly. No one of us can be highly competent in all fields. It behooves us to recognize this fact and to take advantage of the superior knowledge and capabilities of others in their respective fields. Don’t insist upon making a lot of the decisions yourself which your subordinates can make better than you can.”
― Thomas B. Buell, The Quiet Warrior: A Biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance

“Ambassador Spruance, a quiet person by nature,” wrote one associate to Forrestel, “listened, absorbed, and then formed his own independent, sound judgments. His decisions, calmly and carefully considered, but definite in purpose, reminded me of a steam roller pursuing a determined, inexorable course. His quietness is deceptive. He is a deep thinker, a meticulous planner, and a person of unusual intuition and perception. The absence of bombast in a person of his achievements is one of his greatest attributes.”
― Thomas B. Buell, The Quiet Warrior: A Biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance

“Spruance sent an appropriate message of commendation and appreciation to Mitscher and Task Force 58. “This has been an auspicious beginning for the operations immediately ahead,” said Spruance. “I am proud to have operated with you again.”
― Thomas B. Buell, The Quiet Warrior: A Biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance

“As it turned out, Spruance was able both to revitalize the War College and to relax while doing it, owing to his ability to get other people to do the work for him.”
― Thomas B. Buell, The Quiet Warrior: A Biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance