Quotes About Leadership

Rudd proved to be too conservative for the nation he led, while Gillard's campaign for re-election was too cynical. But the problem goes deeper than any individual's failure. Labor in office suffered a return of the identity crisis that has plagued it in its wilderness years in Opposition... the party had given up its soul to the machine. p208

Curtin had been too sick to announce German's surrender on 9 May 1945. He passed away on 5 July, less than two months before Japan's surrender on 2 September. An estimated hundred thousand people attended his funeral in Perth: one-third of the city's entire population. Among the pallbearers were Liberal Party leader Robert Menzies and Country Party leader Arthur Fadden, testament to a rare Australian leader who was admired across the political spectrum.

Among the first to land was the 22-year-old Hieu Van Le, a future governor of South Australia.

If you want people to work hard and succeed, there are times when you've got to let them find their own way. Overmanaging is a constant danger.

The failure to tell a new story has been matched by an equally remarkable omission: the failure to discern and describe the values and principles that might inform our politics.

A family with the wrong members in control that, perhaps, is as near as one can come to describing England in a phrase.

The foundations of a strong economy don't rest alone on the decisions of Chancellors or the spending programmes of government.

I had the closest thing I have ever had to an out-of-body experience lying in bed one morning. I turned on the 'Today' programme and item four on the news was: 'The shadow chancellor has ruled himself out of the leadership.' I lay there thinking that's interesting, then I realised it was me.

Bush himself came into office with no curiosity about the world, only a suspicion that his predecessor had entangled America in far too many obscure places of no importance to national interests. Wolfowitz

There is this concept of politics as a dirty game. It's a difficult game, but it doesn't have to be dirty. I think this is what we need to bring to politics. I think politics around the world has very often been captured by big interests - 'lobbies' they call them in the States.

I have always said I will be in politics to serve as best as I can and it will take me wherever it will take me.

No Bastard ever won a war by dying for his country

Do not fear failure. Do more than is required of you. Make your own plans fit the circumstances. There is only one type of discipline. — perfect discipline.

Oh, you know. I am secretary of state. My trips aren't successful. I just talk to people.

Aun los mejores hombres, si actúan por sí mismos, cometerán graves equivocaciones. Mientras mayores responsabilidades se coloquen sobre el agente humano, mientras más encumbrado sea su cargo para determinar y controlar, más males hará con seguridad pervirtiendo mentes y corazones si no sigue cuidadosamente el camino del Señor.

Any man who must say, "I am the king" is no true king.

It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on its head.

Some day you'll sit on the throne and the truth will be what you make it.

A good king knows when to save his strength and when to destroy his enemies.

If I had stabbed the mad king in the belly instead of the back, would you admire me more?

You want to lead one day? Then learn how to follow.

Who'd want to kill the likes of you?" "My lord father, for one. He's put me in the van." "I'd do the same. A small man with a big shield. You'll give the archers fits.

Debes conocer a los hombres que te siguen-le oyo decir a Robb una vez-, y ellos debe conocerte. No les pidas a tus hombres que mueran por un desconocido.

Only now and then had the scholar also become the ruler—Marcus Aurelius, Thomas More, Woodrow Wilson.