What makes a good follower? The single most important characteristic may well be a willingness to tell the truth. In a world of growing complexity leaders are increasingly dependent on their subordinates for good information, whether the leaders want to hear it or not. Followers who tell the truth and leaders who listen to it are an unbeatable combination.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
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
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
No one’s a leader if there are no followers.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Failing organizations are usually over-managed and under-led.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.
—Tom Peters (b.1942) American Management Consultant, 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
To lead the people, walk behind them.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
A leader leads by example not by Force.
—Sun Tzu (fl. c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
The man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.
—James Cook (1728–79) English Explorer, Cartographer
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
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
The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
Respect a man, and he will do all the more.
—Unknown
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
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
We are not altogether here to tolerate. We are here to resist, to control and vanquish withal.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
The leader can never close the gap between himself and the group. If he does, he is no longer what he must be. He must walk a tightrope between the consent he must win and the control he must exert.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
In our system leadership is by consent, not command. To lead a President must persuade. Personal contacts and experiences help shape his thinking. They can be critical to his persuasiveness and thus to his leadership.
—Donald Rumsfeld (1932–2021) U.S. Secretary of Defense
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
Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men—the other 999 follow women.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
Managers help people see themselves as they are; Leaders help people to see themselves better than they are.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
A leader is great, not because of his or her power, but because of his or her ability to empower others.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
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
An order that can be misunderstood will be misunderstood.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
A leader has two important characteristics; first, he is going somewhere; second, he is able to persuade other people to go with him.
—Maximilien Robespierre (1758–94) French Revolutionary