Rex Tillerson Quotes

Powerful Rex Tillerson for Daily Growth

About Rex Tillerson

Rex Wayne Tillerson, born on March 23, 1952, in Wichita Falls, Texas, is a distinguished American diplomat, engineer, and executive, best known for serving as the 69th United States Secretary of State under President Donald Trump from February 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018. Born into a family with oil industry roots, Tillerson's career was significantly influenced by his early exposure to the energy sector. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1975 and later obtained an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin in 1975. Tillerson spent the majority of his professional life with ExxonMobil, joining as a production engineer in 1975. He rose through the ranks, becoming Chairman and CEO in 2006, a position he held until his appointment as Secretary of State. During his tenure at ExxonMobil, Tillerson was instrumental in expanding the company's operations globally. In 2013, Tillerson became a trustee of the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. His diplomatic career began when he was appointed as the United States Secretary of State on December 13, 2016, by President Trump. However, his tenure was marked by controversy and ended prematurely in March 2018. As a public figure, Tillerson is known for his pragmatic and low-key approach to diplomacy. His quotes often reflect this style, such as, "The United States stands ready to engage with any nation that's willing to engage with us," and "A lot of what I did during my time at ExxonMobil was trying to break down silos." Despite his departure from the political arena, Tillerson continues to be a significant figure in international relations and energy policy discussions.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you don't have a strategy, just execute on something."

This quote suggests that when faced with uncertainty or lack of a clear, defined strategy, it's important to take action and execute on something – anything – that can provide valuable insights, learning opportunities, or even inadvertently lead to the development of an effective strategy over time. In other words, sometimes the best strategy is to start moving forward and learn from the process rather than waiting for a perfect plan.


"The United States and its allies must maintain persistence and patience in working with regional actors to find a negotiated solution that guarantees stability for all parties, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan."

This quote suggests that the U.S., in collaboration with its allies, should show determination and perseverance in diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a peace agreement in Afghanistan. The proposed solution is expected to ensure stability for all parties involved, not just Afghanistan, but also Iran and Pakistan. The focus is on finding a negotiated settlement rather than resorting to military action. This approach emphasizes the importance of cooperating with regional actors and maintaining peace through dialogue and understanding among nations.


"Our goal is not regime change; our objective is the opposite of regime change, which is to have a stable, secure, unified, independent Iraq."

This quote from Rex Tillerson signifies that his intention for Iraq wasn't to overthrow or destabilize the existing government (regime change), but rather to establish a peaceful, secure, united, and self-governing Iraq (a stable, independent country). The objective was aimed at fostering stability in Iraq, not causing more chaos or fragmentation.


"We're going to be very disciplined and deliberate about how we introduce additional American personnel into Syria."

Rex Tillerson's quote indicates a strategic and measured approach in deploying more US personnel to Syria. He suggests that the US will proceed carefully, ensuring that each step is well-thought-out and timed appropriately before introducing further American presence into the conflict zone. This cautious stance may help avoid potential escalations or unintended consequences, as the US seeks to maintain stability and achieve its objectives in Syria while minimizing risks.


"Let me be clear: America first does not mean 'America alone.' We will continue to work with allies and partners around the world."

This quote by former U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, emphasizes that the "America First" policy doesn't equate to an isolationalist approach ("America alone"). Instead, he assures that the U.S. will maintain collaborative relationships with allies and partners globally. The message suggests a focus on domestic interests while simultaneously engaging in diplomatic efforts with international partners.


Natural gas obviously brings with it a number of quality-of-life environmental benefits because it is a relatively clean-burning fuel. It has a CO2 footprint, but it has no particulates. It has none of the other emissions elements that are of concern to public health that other forms of power-generation fuels do have: coal, fuel oil, others.

- Rex Tillerson

Fuel, Benefits, Other, CO2

I'm not disputing that increasing CO2 emissions in the atmosphere is going to have an impact. It'll have a warming impact.

- Rex Tillerson

Going, Atmosphere, CO2

In conventional oil and natural gas production, you always produce a lot of formation water, and it's crummy water. It's real salty. It's got heavy metals in it. It's got bad stuff in it.

- Rex Tillerson

Natural, Always, Bad Stuff, Salty

The Common Core State Standards are based on the best international research. They are built on the standards used by the most effective education systems around the world, including Singapore, Finland, Canada and the U.K.

- Rex Tillerson

Education, Including, Based, Singapore

When coal came into the picture, it took about 50 or 60 years to displace timber. Then, crude oil was found, and it took 60, 70 years, and then natural gas. So it takes 100 years or more for some new breakthrough in energy to become the dominant source. Most people have difficulty coming to grips with the sheer enormity of energy consumption.

- Rex Tillerson

Some, Breakthrough, Grips, Displace

When coal came into the picture, it took about 50 or 60 years to displace timber. Then crude oil was found, and it took 60, 70 years, and then natural gas. So it takes 100 years or more for some new breakthrough in energy to become the dominant source.

- Rex Tillerson

Some, Breakthrough, About, Displace

We have been blessed in many respects with the explosion of the development of shale gas resources here in North America. It's both U.S. and in Canada.

- Rex Tillerson

Development, Here, Been, Many Respects

It is the public that is illiterate in science and math, a lazy press, and environmental advocacy groups that manufacture fear for misconceptions about energy.

- Rex Tillerson

Environmental, Lazy, About, Advocacy

Compromise on ethical conduct is not an option.

- Rex Tillerson

Ethical, Conduct, Option, Compromise

We have spent our entire existence adapting.

- Rex Tillerson

Existence, Spent, Entire, Adapting

As a nation, we must unite in recognizing the mounting evidence that the U.S. is falling behind international competitors in producing students ready for 21st-century jobs.

- Rex Tillerson

Behind, Falling, Evidence, 21st-Century

We don't discount that people's fears are their fears.

- Rex Tillerson

People, Fears, Discount

More and more jobs are applying cutting-edge technologies and now demand deeper knowledge of math and science in positions that most people don't think of as STEM-related, including machinists, electricians, auto techs, medical technicians, plumbers and pipefitters.

- Rex Tillerson

Medical, Auto, Technicians, Cutting-Edge

Integrity is essential and irreplaceable. It is the most valuable asset for a person, a company, or a society seeking to build and progress.

- Rex Tillerson

Seeking, Irreplaceable, Most, Valuable Asset

Through my career at ExxonMobil, I've been actively involved in United Way campaigns.

- Rex Tillerson

Career, Through, Been, Actively

By the year 2040, the world's population is likely to increase by about 2 billion people, with also projected economic output will be up about 130 percent versus the year 2010.

- Rex Tillerson

Will, Year, Likely, Versus

There are still hundreds of millions, billions of people living in abject poverty around the world. They need electricity. They need electricity they can count on, that they can afford. They need fuel to cook their food on that's not animal dung.

- Rex Tillerson

Living, Still, Billions, Abject

We recognize that greenhouse gas emissions are one of the factors affecting climate change.

- Rex Tillerson

Change, Climate Change, Gas, Greenhouse

Throughout my life and career, I have continually been impressed with the importance of integrity - whether it was growing up as a Boy Scout, working in one of my first jobs as a university janitor, or being a leader in a Fortune 500 company.

- Rex Tillerson

Leader, My Life, Career, Being A Leader

In the business world, we can point to instances when a lack of integrity has bankrupted entire companies - in sectors as different as finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, and energy.

- Rex Tillerson

Business, Sectors, Entire, Manufacturing

When I was growing up, I was regularly involved in local activities such as food collections, food kitchens, and other initiatives.

- Rex Tillerson

Other, Local, Kitchens, Collections

Your personal integrity, once established and earned, people don't have to think about it. They know. They know you. They know you'll do the right thing every time.

- Rex Tillerson

Think, Established, About, Every Time

Energy independence and energy security are really two different things.

- Rex Tillerson

Security, Things, Energy Security

You'd be surprised how many times I've had to have that conversation with heads of state who want to say to me, 'Well, look, I know you can have some influence on the president. I need you to go back and tell him this.'

- Rex Tillerson

Back, Tell, Some, Conversation

All things come down to your personal relationships.

- Rex Tillerson

Relationships, Come, Things, All Things

The Boy Scouts, of course, had an influence on me because I learned about service in the community.

- Rex Tillerson

Service, Me, Learned, Scouts

You know, oil prices from 2007, on the strength of a very robust global economy and a very robust emerging China, many of you will recall, ramped up to near $150 a barrel. Then we had the financial - U.S. financial collapse. Oil prices collapsed all the way down to $40 a barrel.

- Rex Tillerson

Strength, Financial, Very, Emerging

We have for many years included a price of carbon in our outlook. We put it in as a cost. Everything gets tested against it.

- Rex Tillerson

Cost, Against, Tested, Outlook

People go out; they take risk; they find a way to develop resources that were previously not accessible, not available because of technological reasons.

- Rex Tillerson

Go, Reasons, Accessible, Technological

If you ask the average person on the street about U.S. energy and U.S. oil in particular, our situation, most Americans would say, 'Oh, we're energy poor; we don't have enough oil; we don't have enough natural gas.'

- Rex Tillerson

Average, About, Our, Average Person

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.