Motivational Quotes

Leadership

There is no such thing as a perfect leader either in the past or present, in China or elsewhere. If there is one, he is only pretending, like a pig inserting scallions into its nose in an effort to look like an elephant.

- Liu Shao-Ch'I

Best Quotes about Leadership

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

We are reformers in the spring and summer, but in autumn we stand by the old. Reformers in the morning, and conservers at night.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

Skill in the art of communication is crucial to a leader's success. He can accomplish nothing unless he can communicate effectively.

Allen, Norman

A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting. A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group.

Ewing, Russell H.

No affection and a great brain, these are the people to command the world.

Disraeli, Benjamin

To lead people walk behind them.

Lao-Tzu

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

There are many elements to a campaign. Leadership is number one. Everything else is number two.

Brecht, Bertolt

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.

Maxwell, John C.

10.

The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.

Hesburgh, Theodore M.

11.

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

Churchill, Winston

12.

All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.

Galbraith, John Kenneth

13.

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

14.

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

15.

Leadership appears to be the art of getting others to want to do something you are convinced should be done.

Packard, Vance

16.

The first thing a great person does, is make us realize the insignificance of circumstance.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

17.

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

Schwarzkopf, Norman

18.

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

Peters, Thomas J.

19.

Some men must follow, and some command, though all are made of clay.

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth

20.

Keep cool and you will command everyone.

Justinian

21.

Those that rule must hear and be deaf, must see and be blind.

Proverb, German

22.

Efficiency tends to deal with Things. Effectiveness tends to deal with People. We manage things, we lead people

23.

Search others for their virtue, and yourself for your vices.

Fuller, R. Buckminster

24.

Leadership has to do with direction. Management has to do with the speed, coordination and logistics in going in that direction. The WORKERS are chopping their way through the jungle. The MANAGERS are coordinating, making sure the tools are sharp, etc. The LEADERS climb a tree and shout Wrong jungle!! The MANAGERS shout back Be quiet! We're making progress!

25.

The speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack.

Lukas, Wayne

26.

To be a leader, you have to make people want to follow you, and nobody wants to follow someone who doesn't know where he is going.

Namath, Joe

27.

The person who has no enemies has no followers.

Piatt, Don

28.

Ronald Reagan has held the two most demeaning jobs in the country; President of the United States and radio broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs.

Will, George F.

29.

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

Ledru-Rollin, Alexandre

30.

That is no use at all. What I want is men who will support me when I am in the wrong.

Melbourne, Lord

31.

Leaders don't inflict pain -- they share pain.

Depree, Max

32.

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

Schorr, James

33.

We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.

Patton, George S.

34.

A leader knows what's best to do; a manager knows merely how best to do it.

Adelman, Ken

35.

You do not lead by hitting people over the head -- that's assault, not leadership.

Eisenhower, Dwight D.

36.

No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.

Tacitus, Publius Cornelius

37.

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

38.

A prince should be slow to punish, and quick to reward.

Ovid

39.

If you lead the people with correctness, who will dare not be correct?

Confucius

40.

It is a characteristic of all movements and crusades that the psychopathic element rises to the top.

Lindner, Robert

41.

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

Patton, George S.

42.

Eagles don't flock, you have to find them one at a time.

Perot, H. Ross

43.

No man has ever risen to the real stature of spiritual manhood until he has found that it is finer to serve somebody else than it is to serve himself.

Wilson, Woodrow T.

44.

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.

45.

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

Maurois, Andre

46.

Wise leaders generally have wise counselors because it takes a wise person themselves to distinguish them.

Diogenes of Sinope

47.

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

Bonaparte, Napoleon

48.

Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.