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
Right or wrong, the customer is always right.
—Marshall Field (1834–1906) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson, Philanthropist
Leadership is the challenge to be something more than average.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational 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
Effective leaders are known by the questions they ask rather than the statements they make.
—Unknown
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
Men are led by trifles.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
To be a leader of men one must turn one’s back on men.
—Havelock Ellis (1859–1939) British Sexologist, Physician, Social Reformer
The secret of a leader lies in the tests he has faced over the whole course of his life and the habit of action he develops in meeting those tests.
—Gail Sheehy (1936–2020) American Writer, Journalist
To be omnipotent but friendless is to reign.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
When placed in command—take charge.
—H. Norman Schwarzkopf (1934–2012) United States Army General
All business success rests on something labeled a sale, which at least momentarily weds company and customer.
—Tom Peters (b.1942) American Management Consultant, Author
Those who can command themselves command others.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Leadership is the wise use of power. Power is the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
When a blind man bears the standard, pity those who follow.
—French Proverb
Ronald Reagan has held the two most demeaning jobs in the country; President of the United States and radio broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs.
—George Will (b.1941) American Columnist, Journalist, Writer
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) United States Army General
When I think of this life I have led; the desolation of solitude it has been; the masoned, walled-town of a Captain’s exclusiveness, which admits but small entrance to any sympathy from the green country without—oh, weariness! heaviness! Guinea-coast slavery of solitary command!
—Herman Melville (1819–91) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Poet
He is the richest man who enriches his country most; in whom the people feel richest and proudest; who gives himself with his money; who opens the doors of opportunity widest to those about him; who is ears to the deaf; eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. Such a man makes every acre of land in his community worth more, and makes richer every man who lives near him.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
The high sentiments always win in the end, the leaders who offer blood, toil, tears and sweat always get more out of their followers than those who offer safety and a good time. When it comes to the pinch, human beings are heroic.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
Leadership is like the old galley ships. 100s are rowing, but only one (the captain) knows where they are going
—Indian Proverb
In the great mass of our people there are plenty individuals of intelligence from among whom leadership can be recruited.
—Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) 31st American President
The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
Eagles don’t flock—you have to find them one at a time.
—Ross Perot (1930–2019) American Businessman
Doing what’s right isn’t the problem. It is knowing what’s right.
—Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–73) American Head of State, Political leader
The most important quality in a leader is that of being acknowledged as such. All leaders whose fitness is questioned are clearly lacking in force.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
The best leader is the one who has the sense to surround himself with outstanding people and self-restraint not to meddle with how they do their jobs.
—Indian Proverb
A leader is one who, out of madness or goodness, volunteers to take upon himself the woe of the people. There are few men so foolish, hence the erratic quality of leadership in the world.
—John Updike (1932–2009) American Novelist, Poet, Short-Story Writer
An order that can be misunderstood will be misunderstood.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
The wise man who is not heeded is counted a fool, and the fool who proclaims the general folly first and loudest passes for a prophet and Fuhrer, and sometimes it is luckily the other way round as well, or else mankind would long since have perished of stupidity.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher