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About this quote

What does it mean?
Powell called his Security Council speech a painful blot on his record.
In plain terms
He said the speech was a painful mistake.
What can you take from it?
Own mistakes and acknowledge their impact.

Where it applies

  • public speaking
  • career retrospection

Putting it to work

  • issue apologies
  • learn from errors

Questions to consider

  • How does public acknowledgment affect a leader’s legacy?

Another view

Labeling a speech as a blot may oversimplify complex diplomatic outcomes.

More from Colin Powell

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  2. 'The sanctions exist -- not for the purpose of hurting the Iraqi people, but for the purpose of keeping in check Saddam Hussein's ambitions toward developing w…

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  3. 'Our strategy in going after this army is very simple. First we are going to cut it off, and then we are going to kill it.'

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