Leader quotes
3.2K quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
"Never let yourself be persuaded that any one Great Man, any one leader, is necessary to the salvation of America. When America consists of one leader and 158 million followers, it will no longer be America."
"Be your own leader, be your own self, step out of my shadows and be your own person."
"The leader of the past was a person who knew how to tell. The leader of the future will be a person who knows how to ask."
"Brevity is the soul of command. Too much talking suggests desperation on the part of the leader. Speak shortly, decisively and to the point–and couch your desires in such natural logic that no one can raise objections. Then move on."
"We must all face the fact that our leaders are certifiably insane or worse"
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"Authenticity is about imperfection. And authenticity is a very human quality. To be authentic is to be at peace with your imperfections. The great leaders are not the strongest, they are the ones who are honest about their weaknesses. The great leaders are not the smartest; they are the ones who admit how much they don't know. The great leaders can't do everything; they are the ones who look to others to help them. Great leaders don't see themselves as great; they see themselves as human."
"A good leader... maintains a balance between emotional drive and sound thinking."
"Be with a leader when he is right, stay with him when he is still right, but, leave him when he is wrong."
"Leaders who do not act dialogically, but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organize the people--they manipulate them. They do not liberate, nor are they liberated: they oppress."
"Leaders are those who empower others."
"The true leader is a different sort; he seeks effective activity which has a truly beneficient purpose. He inspires others to follow in his wake, and holding aloft the torch of wisdom, leads the way for society to realize its genuinely great aspirations."
"I lead no party; I follow no leader. I have given the best part of my life to careful study of Islam, its law and polity, its culture, its history and its literature."
"A leader's job is not just to get the best out of their people-a leader's job is to make more leaders."
"I say to all those leaders, do not look the other way. Do not hesitate... It is within your power to avoid a genocide of humanity."
"Appraisals are where you get together with your team leader and agree what an outstanding member of the team you are, how much your contribution has been valued, what massive potential you have and, in recognition of all this, would you mind having your salary halved."
"You have to work and think about how we can make this world a better place for all. This is what I'd really like to ask our young leaders. We will try as leaders of today to minimise the problems which we will hand over to you. But it is to you. You have to take ownership and leadership of tomorrow. For that to be possible, you have to strengthen your capacity and widen your vision as a global citizen."
"If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're gonna get selfish, ignorant leaders."
"Your ancestors came to Macedonia and the rest of Hellas [Greece] and did us great harm, though we had done them no prior injury. I have been appointed leader of the Greeks, and wanting to punish the Persians I have come to Asia, which I took from you."
"A leader's job is not to do the work for others; it's to help others figure out how to do it themselves, to get things done and to succeed beyond what they thought possible."
"If in the darkness of ignorance, you don’t recognize a person’s true nature, look to see whom he has chosen for his leader."
"A leader sees greatness in other people. He nor she can be much of a leader if all she sees is herself."
"We must unite. Violence against women cannot be tolerated, in any form, in any context, in any circumstance, by any political leader or by any government."
"The ones that you're calling wild are going to be the leaders in a little while."
"We the people, elect leaders not to rule but to serve"
"No one is born a good citizen or a good democrat or a good leader; it takes time and education."
