Motivational Quotes

Leadership

I'm their leader, I've got to follow them.

- Ledru-Rollin, Alexandre

Best Quotes about Leadership

Leaders must invoke an alchemy of great vision.

Kissinger, Henry

The successful man doesn't use others, other people use the successful man, for above all the success is of service.

Caine, Mark

The chief executive who knows his strengths and weaknesses as a leader is likely to be far more effective than the one who remains blind to them. He also is on the road to humility -- that priceless attitude of openness to life that can help a manager absorb mistakes, failures, or personal shortcomings.

Adair, John

'Tis a dainty thing to command, though 'twere but a flock of sheep.

Cervantes, Miguel De

Those who can command themselves command others.

Hazlitt, William

Leadership is not magnetic personality--that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not making friends and influencing people --that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.

Drucker, Peter F.

There is great force hidden in a gentle command.

Herbert, George

Who has not served cannot command.

Florio, John

We will make them think it's their idea. That's how all great leaders fool people.

Laura Preble

10.

Great leaders understand human behavior rather than the cybernetics of any function.

Schorr, James

11.

I don't believe in just ordering people to do things. You have to sort of grab an oar and row with them.

Geneen, Harold S.

12.

I don't think that a leader can control to any great extent his destiny. Very seldom can he step in and change the situation if the forces of history are running in another direction.

Nixon, Richard M.

13.

When the best leader's work is done the people say, We did it ourselves.

Lao-Tzu

14.

A leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people or improve the system they live under.

Ervin, Sam

15.

A leader is one who, out of madness or goodness, volunteers to take upon himself the woe of the people. There are few men so foolish, hence the erratic quality of leadership in the world.

Updike, John

16.

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.

Augustine, St.

17.

Every private in the French army carries a Field Marshall wand in his knapsack.

Bonaparte, Napoleon

18.

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.

Roosevelt, Theodore

19.

The manager administers; the leader innovates. The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective. The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why. The manager has his eye on the bottom line; the leader has his eye on the horizon. The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.

Bennis, Warren

20.

The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on. 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.

Lippmann, Walter

21.

Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.

Patton, George S.

22.

It is the Vague and Elusive. Meet it and you will not see its head. Follow it and you will not see its back.

Lao-Tzu

23.

It's important for the explorer to be willing to be led astray.

Oech, Roger Von

24.

The minute a person whose word means a great deal to others dare to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow.

Anderson, Marian

25.

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.

Rohn, Jim

26.

Public sentiment is everything, with it nothing can fail, without it nothing can succeed.

Lincoln, Abraham

27.

The world cannot be governed without juggling.

Selden, John

28.

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.

Roosevelt, Eleanor

29.

A leader has been defined as one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

30.

The golden rule for every business man is this: Put yourself in your customer's place.

Marden, Orison Swett

31.

Morale is faith in the man at the top.

Johnston, Albert Sidney

32.

In really good companies, you have to lead. You have to come up with big ideas and express them forcefully. I have always been encouraged -- or sometimes forced -- to confront the very natural fear of being wrong. I was constantly pushed to find out what I really thought and then to speak up. Over time, I came to see that waiting to discover which way the wind was blowing is an excellent way to learn how to be a follower.

Enrico, Roger

33.

The nation will find it very hard to look up to the leaders who are keeping their ears to the ground.

Churchill, Winston

34.

The most important quality in a leader is that of being acknowledged as such.

Maurois, Andre

35.

All business success rests on something labeled a sale, which at least momentarily weds company and customer.

Peters, Thomas J.

36.

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.

Lao-Tzu

37.

Each person must decide for himself what he wants each day. As a leader, I will expose you to the options and the likely consequences of those options. I'll even share my opinion if asked, but I'll never confuse it with the opinion, which simply doesn't exist.

Dyer, Wayne

38.

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...

Forbes, B. C.

39.

One secret of leadership is that the mind of a leader never turns off. Leaders even when they are sightseers or spectators, are active; not passive observers.

Humes, James

40.

The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee and I will pay more for that ability than for any other under the sun.

Rockefeller, John D.

41.

It is a great pity when the one who should be the head figure is a mere figure head.

Spurgeon, Charles Haddon

42.

Outstanding leaders go out of the way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it's amazing what they can accomplish.

Walton, Sam

43.

Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.

Tacitus, Publius Cornelius

44.

When placed in command -- take charge.

Schwarzkopf, Norman

45.

Do what is right, not what you think the high headquarters wants or what you think will make you look good.

Schwarzkopf, Norman

46.

The best leaders... almost without exception and at every level, are master users of stories and symbols.

Peters, Thomas J.

47.

The best leaders are those most interested in surrounding themselves with assistants and associates smarter than they are. They are frank in admitting this and are willing to pay for such talents.

Parrish, Amos

48.

I'm their leader, I've got to follow them.

Ledru-Rollin, Alexandre

49.

Most of the ladies and gentlemen who mourn the passing of the nation's leaders wouldn't know a leader if they saw one. If they had the bad luck to come across a leader, they would find out that he might demand something from them, and this impertinence would put an abrupt and indignant end to their wish for his return.

Lapham, Lewis H.

50.

When firmness is sufficient, rashness is unnecessary.

Bonaparte, Napoleon