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
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
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
Good leaders make people feel that they’re at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens people feel centered and that gives their work meaning.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
There is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than the creation of a new order of things….. Whenever his enemies have occasion to attack the innovator they do so with the passion of partisans, while the others defend him sluggishly so that the innovator and his party alike are vulnerable.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
The secret of my influence has always been that it remained secret.
—Salvador Dali (1904–89) Spanish Painter
Perhaps in His wisdom the Almighty is trying to show us that a leader may chart the way, may point out the road to lasting peace, but that many leaders and many peoples must do the building.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
The genius of a good leader is to leave behind him a situation which common sense, without the grace of genius, can deal with successfully.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator, Writer
An army of deer would be more formidable commanded by a lion, than a an army of lions commanded by a stag.
—Common Proverb
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
The best efforts of a fine person is felt after we have left their presence.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that person is crazy.
—Dave Barry (b.1947) American Humorist, Columnist
You can’t become a leader in one conference.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
You do not lead by hitting people over the head—that’s assault, not leadership.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
Leadership is developed daily, not in a day.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail.
—Muriel Strode (1875–1964) American Author, Businesswoman
Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present.
—Rudy Giuliani (b.1944) American Politician
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
We know that leadership is very much related to change. As the pace of change accelerates, there is naturally a greater need for effective leadership.
—John Kotter (b.1947) American Management Consultant
Entrepreneurs are the forgotten heroes of America.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
Respect a man, he will do the more.
—James Howell (c.1593–1666) Anglo-Welsh Writer, Historian
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the Promised Land.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Every leader needs to look back once in a while to make sure he has followers.
—Unknown
The person who renders loyal service in a humble capacity will be chosen for higher responsibilities, just as the biblical servant who multiplied the one pound given him by his master was made ruler over ten cities…
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Leaders keep their eyes on the horizon, not just on the bottom line.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
Mountaintops inspire leaders but valleys mature them.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
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 Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
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
If I advance, follow me! If I retreat, kill me! If I die, avenge me!
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be, by remaining what we are.
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
Coaching is nothing more than eliminating mistakes before you get fired.
—Lou Holtz (1893–1980) American Stage Performer
The whole history of the world is summed up in the fact that, when nations are strong, they are not always just, and when they wish to be just, they are often no longer strong.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
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
Big shots are little shots who kept shooting.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Essayist
I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
The great leaders have always stage-managed their effects.
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman
You manage things; you lead people.
—Grace Hopper (1906–92) American Naval Officer, Mathematician
Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.
—Tom Peters (b.1942) American Management Consultant, Author
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
Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
The easiest thing is to react. The second easiest thing is to respond. But the hardest thing is to initiate.—When people ask you to tell them what to do, resist.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Tell a person they are brave and you help them become so.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
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
Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it. The man who knows how will always have a job. The man who also knows why will always be his boss. As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
If you’re not uncomfortable in your work as a leader, it’s almost certain you’re not reaching your potential as a leader.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
We are reformers in the spring and summer, but in autumn we stand by the old. Reformers in the morning, and conservers at night.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Greatness lies, not in being strong, but in the right using of strength; and strength is not used rightly when it serves only to carry a man above his fellows for his own solitary glory. He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
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