The world of the 1990s and beyond will not belong to ‘managers’ or those who can make the numbers dance. The world will belong to passionate, driven leaders — people who not only have enormous amounts of energy but who can energize those whom they lead.
—Jack Welch (b.1935) American Businessperson
I am a leader by default, only because nature does not allow a vacuum.
—Desmond Tutu (b.1931) South African Clergyman
A leader is best
When people barely know he exists,
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
They will say:
We did it ourselves.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Leadership is getting players to believe in you. If you tell a teammate you’re ready to play as tough as you’re able to, you’d better go out there and do it. Players will see right through a phony. And they can tell when you’re not giving it all you’ve got. Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It’s being able to take it as well as dish it out. That’s the only way you’re going to get respect from the players.
—Larry Bird (b.1956) American Basketball Player
All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you’re in control, they’re in control.
—Tom Landry (1924–2000) American Sportsperson
The successful man doesn’t use others, other people use the successful man, for above all the success is of service.
—Mark Caine
A leader is someone who creates infectious enthusiasm.
—Ted Turner (b.1938) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
You can have everything in life you want if you’ll just help enough other people get what they want.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Channeled correctly and integrated properly, our diversity can be our greatest strength.
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
Leadership cannot really be taught. It can only be learned.
—Harold S. Geneen (1910–1997) British-American Businessman
I don’t think that a leader can control to any great extent his destiny. Very seldom can he step in and change the situation if the forces of history are running in another direction.
—Richard Nixon (1913–94) American Head of State, Lawyer
Outstanding leaders go out of the way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.
—Sam Walton (1918–92) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember this whole thing was started by a mouse.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
Management is nothing more than motivating other people.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
Leadership is much more an art, a belief, a condition of the heart, than a set of things to do. The visible signs of artful leadership are expressed, ultimately, in its practice.
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
Next to doing a good job yourself, the greatest joy is in having someone else do a first-class job under your direction.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
Leaders must encourage their organizations to dance to forms of music yet to be heard.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
A leader is best when people barely know he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worse when they despise him. But of a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: “we did it ourselves.”
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Notice I did not say what people can do–what we can do is merely a consequence of what we can be.
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be, by remaining what we are.
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
Leaders are people who do the right thing. Managers are people who do things right … a profound difference.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
There is no power on earth that can neutralize the influence of a high, simple and useful life.
—Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) African-American Educationist
One concept corrupts and confuses the others. I am not speaking of the Evil whose limited sphere is ethics; I am speaking of the infinite.
—Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) Argentine Writer, Essayist, Poet
In this and like communities public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed; consequently he who moulds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes and decisions. He makes statutes and decisions possible or impossible to be executed.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Great leadership does not mean running away from reality. Sometimes the hard truths might just demoralize the company, but at other times sharing difficulties can inspire people to take action that will make the situation better.
—John Kotter (b.1947) American Management Consultant
The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants them to do, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Communication is the real work of leadership.
—Nitin Nohria (b.1962) Indian-American Academic
A leader who doesn’t hesitate before he sends his nation into battle is not fit to be a leader.
—Golda Meir (1898–1978) Israeli Head of State
I’ve always found that the speed of the boss is the speed of the team.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
Leaders need to provide strategy and direction and to give employees tools that enable them to gather information and insight from around the world. Leaders shouldn’t try to make every decision.
—Bill Gates (b.1955) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Author
Leaders must live by higher standards than their followers.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
Give me a child and I’ll shape him into anything.
—B. F. Skinner (1904–90) American Psychologist, Social Philosopher, Inventor, Author
Right or wrong, the customer is always right.
—Marshall Field (1834–1906) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson, Philanthropist
Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present.
—Rudy Giuliani (b.1944) American Politician
Life is too short for theatrics, for face time, for jumping through hoops, for excuses, for blaming, for trying too hard to please others, or for chasing society’s illusion of distant riches or fame.
—Robert Cooper (b.1947) British Diplomat
I don’t believe in just ordering people to do things. You have to sort of grab an oar and row with them.
—Harold S. Geneen (1910–1997) British-American Businessman
The secret of my influence has always been that it remained secret.
—Salvador Dali (1904–89) Spanish Painter
I am not a labor leader. I don’t want you to follow me or anyone else. If you are looking for a Moses to lead you out of the capitalist wilderness you will stay right where you are. I would not lead you into this promised land if I could, because if I could lead you in, someone else could lead you out.
—Eugene V. Debs (1855–1926) American Socialist, Union Leader
Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.
—Harold S. Geneen (1910–1997) British-American Businessman
Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.
—Marian Anderson (1897–1993) American Singer
To lead the people, walk behind them.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
In our society a man is known by the company he owns.
—Gerald F. Lieberman
Not everyone will become a great leader, but everyone can become a better leader.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done.
—Ralph Lauren (b.1939) American Businessman
I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Leadership is based on a spiritual quality; the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
A chief is a man who assumes responsibility. He says, “I was beaten”. He does not say, “My men were beaten”. Thus speaks a real man.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
He led his regiment from behind –
He found it less exciting.
But when away his regiment ran,
His place was at the fore, O.
—W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) English Dramatist, Librettist, Poet, Illustrator
GOD, give us men! A time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who have honor; men who will not lie;
Men who can stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty, and in private thinking;
For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,
Their large professions and their little deeds,
Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps,
Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Novelist, Poet
Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
The weaknesses of the many make the leader possible.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
In order to be a leader a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence, the supreme quality for a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office. If a man’s associates find him guilty of being phony, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore is integrity and high purpose.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
There are no warlike people, just warlike leaders.
—Ralph Bunche (1903–71) American Political Scientist, Diplomat
Leaders don’t inflict pain — they share pain.
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
It is a great pity when the one who should be the head figure is a mere figure head.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) British Baptist Preacher, Theologian, Hymn writer
It often happens that I wake at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope.
—Pope John XXIII (1881–1963) Italian Catholic Religious Leader, Pope
I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.
—Indira Gandhi (1917–84) Indian Head of State
Tell a person they are brave and you help them become so.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men — the other 999 follow women.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
We are not altogether here to tolerate. We are here to resist, to control and vanquish withal.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Leaders keep their eyes on the horizon, not just on the bottom line.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
That perfect bliss and sole felicity, the sweet fruition of an earthly crown.
—Christopher Marlowe (1564–93) English Playwright, Poet, Translator
Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself. Before you can move their tears, your own must flow. To convince them, you must yourself believe.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Blessed are the people whose leaders can look destiny in the eye without flinching but also without attempting to play God.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
Get around people who have something of value to share with you. Their impact will continue to have a significant effect on your life long after they have departed.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
The easiest thing is to react. The second easiest thing is to respond. But the hardest thing is to initiate.—When people ask you to tell them what to do, resist.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Leadership is not magnetic personality–that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not making friends and influencing people—that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to higher sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
Good leaders make people feel that they’re at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens people feel centered and that gives their work meaning.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
The man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.
—James Cook (1728–79) English Explorer, Cartographer
Eagles don’t flock–you have to find them one at a time.
—Ross Perot (1930–2019) American Businessman
The higher men climb,
the longer their working day.
There are no office hours for leaders.
—James Gibbons (1834–1921) American Catholic Religious Leader, Clergyman
No man has ever risen to the real stature of spiritual manhood until he has found that it is finer to serve somebody else than it is to serve himself.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
The minute a person whose word means a great deal to others dare to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow.
—Marian Anderson (1897–1993) American Singer
The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belonged to one category.
—Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) Nazi Leader, Chancellor of Germany
I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail.
—Muriel Strode (1875–1964) American Author, Businesswoman
Greatness lies, not in being strong, but in the right using of strength; and strength is not used rightly when it serves only to carry a man above his fellows for his own solitary glory. He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Congregationalist Clergyman, Writer
Those who can command themselves command others.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
The character and qualifications of the leader are reflected in the men he selects, develops and gathers around him. Show me the leader and I will know his men. Show me the men and I will know their leader. Therefore, to have loyal, efficient employees-be a loyal and efficient employer.
—Arthur W. Newcomb
Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.
—H. Norman Schwarzkopf (1934–2012) American Military Leader
Telling people I can’t lose weight may make me eat more—to prove myself right. Perhaps if I told people, “‘I’m gonna lose 20.”
—Marty Nemko (b.1950) American Career Coach, Author
Leaders learn by leading, and they learn best by leading in the face of obstacles. As weather shapes mountains, problems shape leaders.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
Leadership is scarce because few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsibility of individuals to contribute.
—C. William Pollard (b.1938) American Businessman
Enduring setbacks while maintaining the ability to show others the way to go forward is a true test of leadership.
—Nitin Nohria (b.1962) Indian-American Academic
If you lead a country like Britain, a strong country, a country which has taken a lead in world affairs in good times and in bad, a country that is always reliable, then you have to have a touch of iron about you.
—Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British Head of State
Not the cry, but the flight of the wild duck, leads the flock to fly and follow.
—Chinese Proverb
The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor. That sums up the progress of an artful leader.
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
When a customer enters my store, forget me. He is king.
—John Wanamaker (1838–1922) American Merchant, Civil Servant
Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I have a different vision of leadership. A leadership is someone who brings people together.
—George W. Bush (b.1946) American Head of State, Businessperson
In the great mass of our people there are plenty individuals of intelligence from among whom leadership can be recruited.
—Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) American Head of State, Engineer, Businessperson, Humanitarian
He who influences the thought of his times influences the times that follow.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
If you’re not uncomfortable in your work as a leader, it’s almost certain you’re not reaching your potential as a leader.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
The art of leadership, as displayed by really great popular leaders in all ages, consists in consolidating the attention of the people against a single adversary and taking care that nothing will split up that attention into sections. The more the militant energies of the people are directed towards one objective the more will new recruits join the movement, attracted by the magnetism of its unified action, and thus the striking power will be all the more enhanced. The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belonged to the one category; for weak and wavering natures among a leader’s following may easily begin to be dubious about the justice of their own cause if they have to face different enemies.
As soon as the vacillating masses find themselves facing an opposition that is made up of different groups of enemies their sense of objectivity will be aroused and they will ask how is it that all the others can be in the wrong and they themselves, and their movement, alone in the right.
—Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) Nazi Leader, Chancellor of Germany
I forgot to shake hands and be friendly. It was an important lesson about leadership.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.
—Tom Peters (b.1942) American Management Consultant, Author, Public Speaker
A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the
blame and a little less than his share of the credit.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
Men make history, and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
I suppose that leadership at one time meant muscle; but today it means getting along with people.
—Indira Gandhi (1917–84) Indian Head of State
No one’s a leader if there are no followers.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes.
—Tony Blair (b.1953) British Statesman