John F. Lehman, Jr.

“Power corrupts, but weakness corrupts absolutely.”

“Being right is not enough. You must be right at the right time.”

“The Navy is not a social experiment.”

“Maritime superiority is a prerequisite for our national security and economic prosperity.”

“The 600-ship Navy was not just about numbers; it was about capability and a forward-deployed presence.”

“A bureaucrat is a Democrat who has a job that a Republican wants.”

“You cannot have a navy on the cheap. It is a very expensive instrument of national policy.”

“Readiness is the cornerstone of a credible deterrent.”

“The lessons of history are clear: when <strong class="highlight">Americastrong> is strong, the world is safer.”

“In the business of national security, you can't afford to get it wrong.”