Quotes from Oliver North

Compassion doesn't take sides—

SGT Steven C. Ganczewski, a Ranger in editor Chuck Holton's unit, had been asked by a high-school guidance counselor why a young man with his potential would join the Army. Someone with his potential--as if selfless service, even to the point of giving one's life for a cause greater than any one of us--is somehow beneath one's potential. Thankfully, Patrick Henry and George Washington didn't feel that way in 1775.

For a radical Jihadist, this fight is all about dying the right way while killing an infidel. For us, it's all about living the right way because all the dying necessary was done for us two thousand years ago on a hill called Calvary.

People don't like him (John Poindexter) for the same reason they don't like me…If you get things done in this bureaucracy you step on toes.

we shall acquit ourselves with honor, that we may never bring shame upon our faith, our families, or our fellow men.

I believe in the meaning of honor and integrity. I am an action person who feels personally responsible for making any changes in this world that are in my power . . . because if I don't, no one else will. — Mike Spann, excerpt from his CIA application

Be the hunter—not the hunted. Never be caught with your guard down. Use good judgment and act in the best interest of our nation.

Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.

out your mission and keep your honor clean.

You know, I may have another book in me, old man.

In the words of William McKinley, Our flag has never waved over any community but in blessing.

Had Chamberlain and the Europeans stood up to Hitler in 1938, rather than appeasing him, World War II might have been prevented and the death of 405,399 Americans might have been avoided.

There are countless poor and uneducated people around the world. The vast majority of them, if they think of America at all, don't want to kill us; they simply want to be here. Many, as we know from both legal and illegal immigration, want to come to the United States to partake in the opportunity that is every American's birthright. They have no interest in flying airplanes into buildings or putting on an exploding vest.

Americans don't fight for gold or oil or colonial conquest; we fight for an idea—liberty.

Today those who stand, almost alone, against the Jihadis are young American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen, and Marines. We should thank God that they still volunteer to serve.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4–8a NIV).

the U.S. Army's seven core values embody the very qualities contained in Paul's first letter to the church he had planted in Corinth: Leadership, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.

Writers are storytellers. So are readers.

As a Marine officer in combat, I was responsible for the lives and safety of all the Marines who served with me.

I thought using the Ayatollah's money to support the Nicaraguan resistance was a neat idea.

The National Security Council's real role is to coordinate the various activities of the government of the United States in the furtherance of American foreign policy.

I was provided with additional input that was radically different from the truth. I assisted in furthering that version.

I am here to accept responsibility for that which I did. I will not accept responsibility for that which I did not do.

I would not trade you a billion dollars for the kids I led to combat in Vietnam or in fact any of the Marines that I served with for a quarter of a century.