Right or wrong, the customer is always right.
—Marshall Field (1834–1906) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson, Philanthropist
Among the blind the one eyed is king.
—Common Proverb
Leaders don’t inflict pain—they share pain.
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
Efficiency tends to deal with Things. Effectiveness tends to deal with People. We manage things, we lead people
—Unknown
The dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world. In this long vigil he often has to vary his methods of stimulation; but in this long vigil he is also himself striving against a continual tendency to sleep.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
To be omnipotent but friendless is to reign.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.
—Stendhal (Marie-Henri Beyle) (1783–1842) French 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
Leaders must invoke an alchemy of great vision.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
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
It is a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you are trying to lead—and find no one there.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
When placed in command—take charge.
—H. Norman Schwarzkopf (1934–2012) American Military Leader
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
Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Never do that by proxy which you can do yourself.
—Italian Proverb
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
An army of deer would be more formidable commanded by a lion, than a an army of lions commanded by a stag.
—Common Proverb
A crown, golden in show, is but a wreath of thorns; brings danger, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights, to him who wears a regal diadem.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
The very essence of leadership is [that] you have a vision. It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.
—Theodore Hesburgh (1917–2015) American Catholic Educator, Clergyman
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
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
It is a great pity when the one who should be the head figure is a mere figure head.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
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
Anyone can steer the ship when the sea is calm.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
The successful man doesn’t use others, other people use the successful man, for above all the success is of service.
—Mark Caine
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
Do your best to be the lead dog otherwise the view never changes.
—Unknown
Education is the mother of leadership.
—Wendell Willkie (1892–1944) American Politician, Lawyer
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
When we think we lead we are most led.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
When a customer enters my store, forget me. He is king.
—John Wanamaker (1838–1922) American Merchant, Civil Servant
We praise old times, but show no curiosity about modern events.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those who obey.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
Outstanding leaders appeal to the hearts of their followers—not their minds.
—Unknown
People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Do you wish to rise?. Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds?. Lay first the foundation of humility.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
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
When a blind man bears the standard, pity those who follow.
—French Proverb
It is the cause and not merely the death that makes the martyr.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
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 (1935–2020) American Businessperson
The measure of a master is his success in bringing all men around to his opinion twenty years later.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
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
A good leader needs to have a compass in his head and a bar of steel in his heart.
—Robert C. Townsend (1920–98) American Businessman
Eagles don’t flock—you have to find them one at a time.
—Ross Perot (1930–2019) American Businessman
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
Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
It is time for a new generation of leadership, to cope with new problems and new opportunities. For there is a new world to be won.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
To be a leader of men one must turn one’s back on men.
—Havelock Ellis (1859–1939) British Sexologist, Physician, Social Reformer