The pessimist complains about the wind.
The optimist expects it to change.
The leader adjusts the sails.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Author, Speaker, Pastor
Where there is no vision, the people perish.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Among the blind the one eyed is king.
—Common Proverb
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
The influential man is the successful man, whether he be rich or poor.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
Leadership must be established from the top down.
—Sam Nunn (b.1938) American Politician, Lawyer
There is no necessary connection between the desire to lead and the ability to lead, and even less the ability to lead somewhere that will be to the advantage of the led.
—Bergen Evans
You don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader.
—Anthony J. D’Angelo
Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
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
I learned that a great leader is a man who has the ability to get other people to do what they don’t want to do and like it.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
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 effective personal leadership, visualization and affirmation techniques emerge naturally out of a foundation of well thought through purposes and principles that become the center of a person’s life.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
We are like chameleons, we take our hue and the color of our moral character, from those who are around us.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Author, Speaker, Pastor
Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men—the other 999 follow women.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
When we think we lead we are most led.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Some wisdom you must learn from one who’s wise.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them. They make the impossible happen.
—Robert Jarvik (1946–2025) American Scientist, Researcher, Inventor
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 an action, not a position.
—Donald McGannon (1920–84) American Broadcasting Executive
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
Who shall set a limit to the influence of a human being?
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
When we think we lead we most are led.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Men are led by trifles.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Where much is expected from an individual, he may rise to the level of events and make the dream come true.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The man who gets the most satisfactory results is not always the man with the most brilliant single mind, but rather the man who can best coordinate the brains and talents of his associates.
—W. Alton Jones (1891–1962) American Businessperson, Philanthropist
The question “Who ought to be boss?” is like asking “Who ought to be the tenor in the quartet?” Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
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
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