Quotes About Leadership

The world of the 20th century, if it is to come to life in any nobility of health and vigor, must be to a significant degree an American century.

Next morning I showed her brain scan to the juniors at

How different the new order would be if we could consult the veteran instead of the politician.

We have great managers who haven't spent a day in management school. Do we have great surgeons that haven't spent a day in surgical school?

Management is, above all, a practice where art, science, and craft meet

leadership is a sacred trust earned from the respect of those

being a manager' means not merely assuming a position of authority but also becoming more dependent on others

Managing is about nuance as much as it is about decisiveness.

A good part of the work of managing involves doing what specialists do, but in particular ways that make use of the manager's special contacts, status, and information.

To succeed, managers have to become proficient at their superficiality.

You will go far in the Church." "I have no desire to go far. My only ambition is to be a good priest." "You will be that, of course. Nevertheless, you will go higher. And do you know why?" "Why?" "Because," said Orselli, "you are not afraid of worldliness. I do not mean that you are worldly. Far from it. But you have a talent for being all things to all men.

Education makes people easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern, but impossible to enslave.

That decision falls to scientists, engineers, and managers—with at least the tacit approval of company officers and boards of directors. All complex technology is inseparably coupled to an equally complex team of people and systems of people who should interact with one another as smoothly and with as clear a purpose as a set of well-meshed gears.

I have not the smarts or patience for political office.

Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.

People are weary of politicians who make promises they are either unwilling or unable to keep. Society longs for statesmen but it gets politicians. Statesmen are leaders who uphold what is right regardless of the popularity of the position. Statesmen speak out to achieve good for their people, not to win votes. Statesmen promote the general good rather than regional or personal self-interest.

Great leaders don't make excuses. They make things better. They are not unrealistic or blind to the difficulties they face. They simply are not discouraged by them. They never lose confidence that the problems can be solved. They maintain a positive attitude. Great leaders don't blame their people for not being where they ought to be; they take their people from where they are to where they need to be. Great leaders never lose faith that this is possible.

Leaders who doubt that success is possible and who fear the worst should immediately change their attitude or resign so a true leader can take their place.

Though some say youth doth rule me.

A Lady with a Lamp [Florence Nightingale] shall standIn the great history of the land,A noble type of good,Heroic womanhood.

The fate of a nation was riding that night.

He is greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own.

Greatness lies, not in being strong, but in the right using of strength and strength is not used rightly when it serves only to carry a man above his fellows for his own solitary glory. He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own.

Are they dead that yet speak louder than we can speak, and a more universal language? Are they dead that yet act? Are they dead that yet move upon society and inspire the people with nobler motives and more heroic patriotism?