I wish you would have given me this written question ahead of time, so I could plan for it... You know, I just - I'm sure something will pop into my head here in the midst of this press conference, with all the pressure of trying to come up with an answer, but it hadn't yet.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker explains the difficulty of answering unexpected questions live.
- In plain terms
- He prefers written questions to prepare answers.
- What can you take from it?
- Spontaneous questions are hard to answer under pressure.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How to handle surprise questions?
- What helps clarity?
Another view
It shifts focus from substance to delivery logistics.
More from George W. Bush
Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, and to send to the states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage …
Permalink to quote #405 I want you to know. Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me.
Permalink to quote #407 It's not a dictatorship in Washington, but I tried to make it one in that instance.
Permalink to quote #404
Related quotes
'The ideal attitude is to be physically loose and mentally tight.'
Arthur AsheArthur Ashe quote #17 I want to get this shit over with and get these damn people out of here.
Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton quote #57 Under pressure, the mouth speaks when the brain is disengaged, and, sometimes unwittingly, the gearshift is in reverse when it should be in neutral.
Henry FordHenry Ford quote #58