The humblest individual exerts some influence, either for good or evil, upon others.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers. Are the followers reaching their potential? Are they learning? Serving? Do they achieve the required results? Do they change with grace? Manage conflict?
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
We praise old times, but show no curiosity about modern events.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
To excel means to reach beyond the best you have ever given because doing so matters to you personally, for its own sake. It means to run your own race—as an individual, team, or organization. To excel is to know your greatest strengths and passions, and to emphasize them while honestly admitting and managing your weaknesses.
—Robert K. Cooper (b.1957) American Author, Psychologist
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
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
Lots of folks confuse bad management with destiny.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
I am certainly not one of those who need to be prodded. In fact, if anything, I am the prod.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for force. It means the substitution of responsibility for obedience to rank, and of authority of performance for the authority of rank.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
The nation will find it very hard to look up to the leaders who are keeping their ears to the ground.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
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
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
Every moment of our lives we are either growing or dying—and it’s largely a choice, not fate. Throughout its life cycle, every one of the body’s trillions of cells is driven to grow and improve its ability to use more of its innate yet untapped capacity. Research biologist Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, who was twice awarded the Nobel Prize, called this syntropy, which he defined as the “innate drive in living matter to perfect itself”. It turns conventional thinking upside down…As living cells—or as people—there is no staying the same. If we aim for some middle ground or status quo, it’s an illusion—beneath the surface what’s actually happening is we’re dying, not growing. And the goal of a lifetime is continued growth, not adulthood. As Rene Dubos put it, “Genius is childhood recaptured”. For this to happen, studies show that we must recapture—or prevent the loss of—such child-like traits as the ability to learn, to love, to laugh about small things, to leap, to wonder, and to explore. It’s time to rescue ourselves from our grown-up ways before it’s too late.
—Robert K. Cooper (b.1957) American Author, Psychologist
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
Napoleon affords us an example of the danger of elevating one’s self to the absolute, and sacrificing everything to the carrying out of an idea.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
You don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader.
—Anthony J. D’Angelo
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
Respect a man, he will do the more.
—James Howell (c.1593–1666) Anglo-Welsh Writer, Historian
Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
Leadership is developed daily, not in a day.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Author, Speaker, Pastor
Charlatanism of some degree is indispensable to effective leadership.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
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 K. Cooper (b.1957) American Author, Psychologist
When the leadership is right and the time is right, the people can always be counted upon to follow—to the end at all costs.
—Harold J. Seymour (1910–92) American Baseball Historian, Academic
If two or three persons should come with a high spiritual aim and with great powers, the world would fall into their hands like a ripe peach.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
Leadership to me means duty, honor, country. It means character, and it means listening from time to time.
—George H. W. Bush (1924–2018) American Republican Statesman, 41st President
All Mr. Pitt’s sentiments were liberal and elevated. His ruling passion was an unbounded ambition, which, when supported by great abilities and crowned with great success, make (sic) what the world calls a great man. He was haughty, imperious, impatient of contradiction, and over-bearing; qualities which too often accompany, but always clog, great ones.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
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 Football Coach, Player
A leader is someone who creates infectious enthusiasm.
—Ted Turner (b.1938) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
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
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