I think character is permanent, and issues are transient.

Quote by James Stockdale

Topics: James Stockdale Quotes

And we had our own laws. I mean, I wrote them. And we had our...

And we had our own laws. I mean, I wrote them. And we had our...

In order to do something you must be something.

In order to do something you must be something.

He's a novice, but he's had these - he's experienced in leadership in tight circumstances....

He's a novice, but he's had these - he's experienced in leadership in tight circumstances....

They can shout down the head of the physics department at Cal Tech.

They can shout down the head of the physics department at Cal Tech.

So the first thing that went on was to decide... trying to find a time...

So the first thing that went on was to decide... trying to find a time...

This idea, as you know, that I have firm convictions that the idea of issues...

This idea, as you know, that I have firm convictions that the idea of issues...

The guy that just arranges things so that the stock market holds up is nobody...

The guy that just arranges things so that the stock market holds up is nobody...

They were heading out to the middle of the bay - the Gulf - that's...

They were heading out to the middle of the bay - the Gulf - that's...

Half the issues they - are so polished they're talking about - are dead by...

Half the issues they - are so polished they're talking about - are dead by...

Sybil's my wife, and on the first day of October, that's the first time I...

Sybil's my wife, and on the first day of October, that's the first time I...

On the eighteenth of December 1972, when we thought we were getting another of the...

On the eighteenth of December 1972, when we thought we were getting another of the...

I never had a single conversation about politics with Ross Perot in my life; still...

I never had a single conversation about politics with Ross Perot in my life; still...

I'm a grown man. You know, I've been in a lot of scrapes, but I...

I'm a grown man. You know, I've been in a lot of scrapes, but I...

There was nothing there but black water and American fire power.

There was nothing there but black water and American fire power.

But there were highs as well as lows, it was as though they said everybody...

But there were highs as well as lows, it was as though they said everybody...

We couldn't generalize on the people. Some of them were known to be tough guys...

We couldn't generalize on the people. Some of them were known to be tough guys...

I was commanding officer of a supersonic fighter squadron, FA Crusaders.

I was commanding officer of a supersonic fighter squadron, FA Crusaders.

Yeah. I mean, it just seemed to me that it was - I felt so...

Yeah. I mean, it just seemed to me that it was - I felt so...

And so, I mean, he declared war right there and then in so many words...

And so, I mean, he declared war right there and then in so many words...

I was tortured fifteen times, that's total submission. They did that with shutting off your...

I was tortured fifteen times, that's total submission. They did that with shutting off your...