Oliver North Quotes

Powerful Oliver North for Daily Growth

About Oliver North

Oliver Lee North, born on October 7, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas, is an American politician, military officer, and author. Known primarily for his role in the Iran-Contra Affair during the Ronald Reagan administration, North's life and career have been marked by controversy, service, and literature. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, North served as a Marine officer, earning the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service in the Vietnam War. His military career peaked when he became the National Security Council's staffer during the Reagan administration. It was here that he played a significant role in the covert sale of arms to Iran to secure the release of American hostages, an act that later became known as the Iran-Contra Affair. In 1986, North was indicted on charges related to the affair but was acquitted in 1989. His military career ended in 1989 when he was forced to retire due to his role in the scandal. Post-Retirement, North transitioned into politics and authorship. In the realm of literature, North has penned several books, including "Under Fire: An American Story" (1989), "Heroes Proved: A Novel of the War on Terror" (2005), and "Mission Compound: A Thriller" (2014). These works reflect North's personal experiences and views, often focusing on military themes and American values. Despite his controversial past, Oliver North continues to be a significant figure in American politics and literature. His life story serves as a reminder of the complexities and controversies that can arise from service to one's country during times of war and political turmoil.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The greater your responsibilities, the more resourceful you must be."

This quote by Oliver North emphasizes that as one's responsibilities increase, so should their resourcefulness. It suggests that when given greater authority or tasks, an individual is expected to demonstrate creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving skills in order to meet these increased demands. In essence, it implies that taking on more challenges necessitates finding innovative ways to overcome obstacles and achieve success.


"War is not a game, war is an awful reality."

This quote by Oliver North underscores the profound difference between war and games. While games are often competitive, entertaining, or educational, war is a tragic, harsh, and devastating reality. War involves loss of life, destruction, suffering, and long-lasting consequences for individuals, communities, and nations. It is essential to remember this when considering the use of military force, as it emphasizes the gravity and solemnity that should accompany such decisions.


"America can't be frozen in time any more than the American people can be."

This quote by Oliver North emphasizes that America, as a nation, must continue to evolve and adapt to changing times, just as its people do. It suggests that rigidity or resistance to change will hinder progress and the continued success of the nation. The message is to embrace the dynamic nature of society and remain flexible in the face of change, ensuring that America remains relevant, vibrant, and strong.


"We have to decide what kind of country we want to live in, and then make it that way."

This quote emphasizes personal responsibility and collective action in shaping our society. It suggests that citizens must actively choose the type of nation they desire – one based on their values, principles, and aspirations. The implication is that passivity or apathy will result in an undesirable country, while active engagement and decision-making lead to a desired nation. In essence, Oliver North encourages individuals to take control of their collective future and create the society they truly want to live in.


"I am not a criminal. I never have been, and I hope I never shall be."

This quote by Oliver North reflects a strong sense of personal integrity and innocence. He is asserting that he has always adhered to moral and legal principles throughout his life and that he considers himself free from any criminal wrongdoings. Furthermore, he expresses a hope for continued upholding of those same principles in the future. The quote suggests both conviction in one's actions and a strong desire for righteousness.


And so, the youngsters you have today, even though there are far fewer of them - in World War II 16.5 million men and women in uniform, today roughly a million in uniform in spite of the fact that the country is almost twice as large a population as we had in World War II.

- Oliver North

Fact, Country, Almost, Spite

The Obama administration has turned a blind eye to radical Islam since before they came to office. If you look at everything that's transpired since the famous Cairo speech in 2009, it's all been an embrace of those who are the most radical elements in that part of the world. That is not a good sign for America's foreign policy.

- Oliver North

Blind, Been, Turned, Foreign Policy

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

- Oliver North

Safety, Lives, Officer, Marines

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.

- Oliver North

Fact, Vietnam, Dollars, Marines

When you're told to go brief a United States senator on a covert operation, you go do it. And you trust the information isn't going to leak.

- Oliver North

Trust, United States, Brief, Operation

What's been happening in Iraq, what young Americans wearing flak jackets, helmets and flight suits have done is... created the circumstances under which Iraq can become our closest ally in that part of the world and still have a representative government. And that's going to be a very good thing considering what's going on in that neighborhood.

- Oliver North

Flight, Been, Very, Considering

And of course there is so much of World War II that is documented that we never have seen.

- Oliver North

World, Never, World War II, Documented

Vladimir Putin is leading a dying country. Vladimir Putin's regime exports three things: petroleum products - coal, natural gas, and hydrocarbon energy in the form of petroleum. Number two, it exports arms, and, number three, it exports people.

- Oliver North

Country, Natural, Regime, Putin

In North Korea, grass is a vegetable eaten by the people, and they've got nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles. So, something more stringent than what's been done to North Korea is going to have to work; otherwise, a military strike is the only option.

- Oliver North

Vegetable, Been, North, Eaten

We've got a very difficult situation created by this embrace of the so-called Arab Spring. And that's not getting better. It's getting worse. The carnage for the people of Syria is horrific, and it's quite frankly too little, too late to reverse a lot of that.

- Oliver North

Too Late, Got, Very, Arab Spring

There's the assumption being made by the national security advisers to the Obama administration that the North Korean leadership is not suicidal, that they know they will be obliterated if they attacked the United States. But I would point that everything in South Korea and Japan is well within range of what they might want to do.

- Oliver North

United, Japan, South, National Security

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.

- Oliver North

Role, United, United States, National Security

All of my high school male teachers were WWII and/or Korean War veterans. They taught my brothers and me the value of service to our country and reinforced what our dad had shown us about the meaning of service.

- Oliver North

Country, Veterans, Brothers, Korean War

I like to tell people that I have the best job in the media. All I do is hang around with heroes. I do that every week for my 'War Stories' documentary series - and when FOX News wants - I go off and cover the young Americans we send to places like Afghanistan or Iraq.

- Oliver North

Week, Young, Hang, Young Americans

We've been in the nation-building business since World War I, and especially since WWII. The goal is not a Jeffersonian Democracy in Afghanistan, but a representative government that respects human rights, protects its own people, and is a friend of the West. These are very realistic - and necessary - goals.

- Oliver North

World War I, Been, Very, Goals

The United Nations passed so-called sanctions again on North Korea, and they've said they 'will exercise their preemptive right to a nuclear attack.' I don't think this ought to be taken kindly.

- Oliver North

United, United Nations, Sanctions

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

- Oliver North

Truth, Input, Provided, Assisted

Today, only 2 percent of the people know the name of someone serving in uniform. That means 2 percent of your listeners can actually conjure up the image of someone wearing the uniform of the military of the United States.

- Oliver North

Image, United States, Means, Conjure

I was authorized to do everything that I did.

- Oliver North

Everything, Did, Authorized

I want to make it clear that I honestly answered every question put to me during the so-called Iran-Contra hearings. But if they didn't ask me about something, I wasn't about to reveal things that would put other people in jeopardy.

- Oliver North

Other, Reveal, About, So-Called

Bill Clinton is not my commander-in-chief.

- Oliver North

Bill Clinton, Clinton, Bill, Commander-In-Chief

A Commander-in-Chief needs to do two things. One - tell us who the enemy is. And two - say we are fighting to win.

- Oliver North

Enemy, Tell, Needs, Commander-In-Chief

My wife said to me... you never understood what we were going through back home, did you? And I didn't. And I have to confess that.

- Oliver North

Wife, Through, Going, Understood

Writers are storytellers. So are readers.

- Oliver North

Readers, Writers, Storytellers

The lesson of Pearl Harbor ought never to be forgotten, and of course the motto that came from that, 69 years ago, the war which my dad fought, was 'Remember Pearl Harbor, never again.' We need to keep that to mind.

- Oliver North

Harbor, Dad, Fought, Ought

It's one thing to say don't commit atrocities on the battlefield. It's another thing to say don't get caught doing atrocities.

- Oliver North

Doing, Caught, Atrocities, Battlefield

I haven't, in the 23 years that I have been in the uniformed services of the United States of America, ever violated an order - not one.

- Oliver North

United States, Violated, Order

The terrorists that we are up against today do not rely upon cell phones and SAT phones and emails. They rely on couriers. You cannot intercept what a courier is telling somebody.

- Oliver North

Against, Telling, Sat, Intercept

If you could have imagined that someone is happy that Obama is president, it has to be Jimmy Carter because he is no longer the worst president in our history.

- Oliver North

Happy, Could, Obama, Jimmy

I'm trusting in the Lord and a good lawyer.

- Oliver North

Legal, Lord, Trusting, Lawyer

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