Quotes About Leadership

Some People Make Things Happen, Some Watch Things Happen, While Others Wonder What Has Happened.

It is often the people who refuse to assume any responsibility who are apt to be the sharpest critics of those who do.

It was the flexibility, the originality, and the independence of thought—combined, of course, with our vast resources—that made American business grow so rapidly. If the seeds of growth are made sterile, if men become passive followers instead of developing qualities of leadership—and courage—we may find someday that our way of life has been superseded.

Eleanor Roosevelt

A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader; a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.

Given half a chance, the young, I think, can be trusted not only to accept political responsibility, but to welcome it, for with each effort to shoulder a burden comes strength, and with strength comes confidence. With confidence enough, a nation is invincible. No man is defeated without until he has first been defeated within.

To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.

It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.

La culpa no la tienen quienes se rebelan, la culpa la tienen quienes no saben gobernar.

El mundo no está sin gobernante. El programa de los acontecimientos venideros está en las manos del Señor. La Majestad del cielo tiene a su cargo el destino de las naciones, como también lo que concierne a su iglesia. 2JT 352 (1889).

To have the opportunity to lead the Solicitor General's office is the honor of a lifetime. As you know, this is an office with a long and rich tradition, not only of extraordinary legal skill but also of extraordinary professionalism and integrity. That is due, in large measure, to the people who have led it.

Los problemas de los jóvenes sólo pueden resolverse por la vía de la educación, jamás por la fuerza, la violencia o la corrupción. Ésa ha sido mi norma constante de acción y el objeto de mi entrega total, en tiempo y energías, durante el desempeño de la rectoría. El rector, Ing. Javier Barros Sierra, texto de su renuncia a la H. Junta de Gobierno de la UNAM, el 23 de septiembre de 1968.

El que detenta el poder siempre está obligado a ser el más generoso. •José Ignacio Barraza, de la Facultad de Leyes de la UNAM

Hacia mucho que su líder Luis N. Morones se había quitado el overol para hacerse dueño de edificios, casas, terrenos, queridas...

Estoy convencido de que el futuro de este país pertenece a los jóvenes de mi generación. •Gilberto Guevara Niebla, del CNH

Criticar al César no es criticar a Roma. Criticar a un gobierno no es criticar al país. •Carlos Fuentes, al reportero Guillermo Ochoa, Excélsior, 4 de marzo de 1969

The first thing a proprietor learns, and painfully at that, is: Trust is fine, but control is better.

I'd come out of the army after five years as a medic. I was a medical administrator and we ran hospitals, and I was a Captain in the army at the end, in 1945.

Good government generally begins in the family, and if the moral character of a people once degenerate, their political character must soon follow.

One person of integrity can make a difference.

People who can organize themselves and accomplish something as devilishly complicated as a good ballgame are hard to herd around. They can form societies of their own. They become men and women, not human resources. They can be free.

An educated, healthy and confident nation is harder to govern.

We have been in recess since July, and during that time there have been a fuel crisis, a Danish no vote, the collapse of the Euro and a war in the middle east, but what is our business tomorrow? The Insolvency Bill [Lords]. It ought be called the Bankruptcy Bill [Commons], because we play no role.

The way change occurs to begin with, if you come up with a good idea, like heathcare, you're ignored. If you go on you must be mad, absolutely stark-staring bonkers. If you go on after that you're dangerous. Then, if the pressure keeps up there's a pause. And then you can't find anyone at the top who doesn't claim to have thought of it in the first place. That's how progress is made.