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

Quote by James Stockdale

Topics: James Stockdale Quotes

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....

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...

In order to do something you must be something.

In order to do something you must be something.

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...

Well, first of all, I was asked by Ross Perot on a telephone call in...

Well, first of all, I was asked by Ross Perot on a telephone call in...

I mean, I didn't - I should have demanded attention of the boss maybe, or...

I mean, I didn't - I should have demanded attention of the boss maybe, or...

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

I think character is permanent, and issues are transient.

I think character is permanent, and issues are transient.

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...

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...