best quotations about
Leadership |
and Management
| 116 quotes | Visits: 7,061 |
Quotations
 | Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well. — Dwight Eisenhower, 1890-1969, American general & President 21 likes |
 | The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. — Niccolò Machiavelli, 1469-1527, Italian political philosopher 11 likes |
 | History reports that the men who can manage men manage the men who can manage only things, and the men who can manage money manage all. — Will Durant, 1885-1981, American historian & philosopher 11 likes |
 | I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion. — Alexander the Great, 356-323 BC, King of Macedon 11 likes |
 | A leader is a dealer in hope. — Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor 9 likes |
 | To lead people, walk beside them. — Lao-Tzu, 6th cent. BC, Chinese philosopher 8 likes |
 | No leader, however great, can long continue unless he wins battles. The battle decides all. — Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, American football coach 8 likes |
| Men are more easily governed through their vices than through their virtues. — Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor 8 likes |
 | He’ll sit there are he’ll say “Do this! Do that!” and nothing will happen. Poor Ike - it won’t be a bit like the army. — Harry Truman, 1884-1972, American President [1945-1953] (“Ike” being his successor, president Eisenhower) 8 likes |
 | In the end, leaders are defined by the convictions they hold. — George W. Bush, 1946-, American President 8 likes |
 | Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm. — Publilius Syrus, 1st cent. AD, Roman author of maxims 8 likes |
| Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all. — Dwight Eisenhower, 1890-1969, American general & President 7 likes |
| I am sometimes a fox and sometimes a lion. The whole secret of government lies in knowing when to be the one or the other. — Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor 7 likes |
 | A leader is someone who needs other people. — Paul Valery, 1871-1945, French poet 7 likes |
 | Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. — Peter Drucker, 1909–2005, Austrian management guru 7 likes |
| How far would Moses have gone if he had taken a poll in Egypt? — Harry Truman, 1884-1972, American President [1945-1953] 7 likes |
| I know he's a good general, but is he lucky? — Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor 6 likes |
| A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. — Lao-Tzu, 6th cent. BC, Chinese philosopher 6 likes |
| A man who has no consideration for the needs of his men ought never to be given command. — Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor 6 likes |
 | Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley. — Sun Tzu, c. 5th cent. BC, Chinese general & military strategist 6 likes |
| Perhaps we should wish to be both feared and loved: but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose, it is far safer to be feared than loved. — Niccolò Machiavelli, 1469-1527, Italian political philosopher 6 likes |
| There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious. — Niccolò Machiavelli, 1469-1527, Italian political philosopher 6 likes |
| A man should never be appointed into a managerial position if his vision focuses on people's weaknesses rather than on their strengths. — Peter Drucker, 1909–2005, Austrian management guru 6 likes |
| Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile. — Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, American football coach 6 likes |
 | He who neither rouses fear by his anger, nor confers a favor when he is pleased can neither control nor protect. — Chanakya, 370-280 π.X., Indian teacher & philosopher 6 likes |
 | It is frequently a misfortune to have very brilliant men in charge of affairs. They expect too much of ordinary men. — Thucydides, 460-394 BC, Ancient Greek historian 6 likes |
| Put your iron hand in a velvet glove. — Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor 5 likes |
 | The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things. — Ronald Reagan, 1911-2004, American President [1981-1989] 5 likes |
| The supreme quality of leadership is integrity. — Dwight Eisenhower, 1890-1969, American general & President 5 likes |
| The President hears a hundred voices telling him that he is the greatest man in the world. He must listen carefully indeed to hear the one voice that tells him his is not. — Harry Truman, 1884-1972, American President [1945-1953] 5 likes |
| Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their player and motivate. — Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, American football coach 5 likes |
 | He had a heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute. — Edward Gibbon, 1737-1794, English historian 4 likes |
 | Repress, you will have less to punish. — Duc de Levis, 1764-1830, French politician & author of maxims 4 likes |
| Nobility obligates. Noblesse oblige. — Duc de Levis, 1764-1830, French politician & author of maxims (meaning: nobility or a high position extends beyond titles and requires fulfillment of social responsibilities especially in leadership roles) 4 likes |
| The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men. — Sun Tzu, c. 5th cent. BC, Chinese general & military strategist 4 likes |
 | Instruction does much, but encouragement everything. — Wolfgang Goethe, 1749-1832, German poet & philosopher 4 likes |
 | Charlatanism of some degree is indispensable to effective leadership. — Eric Hoffer, 1902-1983, American writer & philosopher 4 likes |
 | A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. — Douglas MacArthur, 1880-1964, American general 4 likes |
| Never give an order that can't be obeyed. — Douglas MacArthur, 1880-1964, American general 4 likes |
| Only three things happen naturally in organizations: friction, confusion, and underperformance. Everything else requires leadership. — Peter Drucker, 1909–2005, Austrian management guru 4 likes |
 | There comes a time as an artist, can't follow the crowd. You have to do YOU, and make the crowd follow you. — Bob Marley, 1945-1981, Jamaican singer 4 likes |
| In order to be a leader a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. — Dwight Eisenhower, 1890-1969, American general & President 4 likes |
 | The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly. — Jim Rohn, 1930-2009, American self-help speker 3 likes |
| Be the chief but never the lord. — Lao-Tzu, 6th cent. BC, Chinese philosopher 3 likes |
| A general must be a charlatan. — Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor 3 likes |
| A prince should suspect everything. — Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor 3 likes |
| Divide and rule, a sound motto. Unite and lead, a better one. — Wolfgang Goethe, 1749-1832, German poet & philosopher 3 likes |
| The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people. — Niccolò Machiavelli, 1469-1527, Italian political philosopher 3 likes |
 | Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. — John Kennedy, 1917-1963, American President [1961-1963] 3 likes |
 | To govern men, you must either excel them in their accomplishments, or despise them. — Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881, British Prime Minister 3 likes |
 | The leader is always alone before bad destiny. — Charles de Gaulle, 1890-1970, French President 3 likes |
 | Being president is like being a jackass in a hailstorm. There's nothing to do but to stand there and take it. — Lyndon Johnson, 1908-1973, American President [1963-1969] 3 likes |
| When things haven't gone well for you, call in a secretary or a staff man and chew him out. You will sleep better and they will appreciate the attention. — Lyndon Johnson, 1908-1973, American President [1963-1969] 3 likes |
| There is one thing about being President: nobody can tell you when to sit down. — Dwight Eisenhower, 1890-1969, American general & President 3 likes |
| Leadership is the ability to decide what is to be done and then get others to do it. — Dwight Eisenhower, 1890-1969, American general & President 3 likes |
| To be able to lead others, a man must be willing to go forward alone. — Harry Truman, 1884-1972, American President [1945-1953] 3 likes |
 | The way you motivate a football team is to eliminate the unmotivated ones. — Lou Holtz, 1937-, American football coach 3 likes |
 | Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. — William Shakespeare, 1564-1616, English poet & playwright ‐ Henry IV 3 likes |
 | If they were easy decisions, they would have been made at a lower level. It’s always the toughest decisions that find their way to the top. — Donald Rumsfeld, American politician 3 likes |
 | The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been. — Henry Kissinger, 1923-2023, American politician 3 likes |
 | A ruler should be slow to punish, and quick to reward. — Ovid, 43 BC-17 AD, Roman poet 3 likes |
 | A good horse should be seldom spurred. — Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734, English physician and adage collector 3 likes |
 | You don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader. — Henry Ford, 1863-1947, American industrialist, founder of FORD 2 likes |
 | He that fears you present will hate you absent. — Thomas Fuller, 1608-1661, English thinker 2 likes |
| Masters should be sometimes blind and sometimes deaf. — Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734, English physician and adage collector 2 likes |
| Orders and decorations are necessary in order to dazzle the people. — Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor 2 likes |
| Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that he is in acute distress. — Sun Tzu, c. 5th cent. BC, Chinese general & military strategist 2 likes |
| The ability to get along without an exceptional leader is the mark of social vigor. — Eric Hoffer, 1902-1983, American writer & philosopher 2 likes |
 | A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus. — Martin Luther King, 1929-1968, American leader in the Civil Rights Movement 2 likes |
| Your first and foremost job as a leader is to take charge of your own energy and then help to orchestrate the energy of those around you. — Peter Drucker, 1909–2005, Austrian management guru 2 likes |
| A president either is constantly on top of events or, if he hesitates, events will soon be on top of him. I never felt that I could let up for a moment. — Harry Truman, 1884-1972, American President [1945-1953] 2 likes |
 | A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. — John Wooden, 1910-2010, American basketball coach 2 likes |
 | If I prove a bad president, I will also likely to prove the last president. — Franklin Roosevelt, 1882-1945, American President [1936-1945] 2 likes |
 | Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion, no matter where it is exercised. Usually it implies some risk — especially in new undertakings. — Walt Disney, 1901-1966, American businessman & cartoonist 2 likes |
 | Don't follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you. — Margaret Thatcher, 1925-2013, British Prime Minister 2 likes |
| It is often in the audacity, in the steadfastness, of the general that the safety and the conservation of his men is found. — Napoleon, 1769-1821, French Emperor 2 likes |
| Leadership is based on a spiritual quality: the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow. — Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, American football coach 2 likes |
 | As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others. — Bill Gates, 1955-, American businessman 2 likes |
| To govern is to choose. — Duc de Levis, 1764-1830, French politician & author of maxims 2 likes |
| A manager sets objectives. A manager organizes. A manager motivates and communicates. A manager, by establishing yardsticks, measures. A manager develops people. — Peter Drucker, 1909–2005, Austrian management guru 2 likes |
 | Sometimes a decision has to be made by a single individual, who has the authority to enforce it. That's why you need a captain. You can't run a ship by a committee-at least not all the time. — Arthur Clarke, 1917-2008, British Sci-Fi writer 2 likes |
 | No military leader became great without audacity. — Carl von Clausewitz, 1780-1831, Prussian military theorist 1 likes |
 | Keep ‘em busy. That was one of the three rules of being chief that old Grimm had passed on to him. Act confidently, never say “I don’t know,” and when all else fails, keep ‘em busy. |
 | Do pleasant things yourself, but unpleasant things through others. |
 | Executive: a man who makes quick decisions and is sometimes right. |
 | Even the best intentioned of great men need a few scoundrels around them; there are some things you cannot ask an honest man to do. |
 | A political leader must keep looking over his shoulder all the time to see if the boys are still there. If they aren’t still there, he’s no longer a political leader. — Bernard Baruch, 1870-1965, American businessman & statesman |
 | Those who can command themselves command others. |
| To get others to come into our ways of thinking, we must go over to theirs; and it is necessary to follow, in order to lead. |
| Most armies are in fact run by their sergeants — the officers are there just to give things a bit of tone and prevent warfare from becoming a mere lower-class brawl. |
| Don’t necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership. |
 | Nothing is impossible for a man who does not have to do it himself. |
 | 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. — John Kenneth Galbraith, 1908-2006, American-Canadian economist |
| Blessed are the people whose leaders can look destiny in the eye without flinching but also without attempting to play God. |
 | Political leaders are never leaders. For leaders we have to look to the Awakeners! Lao Tse, Buddha, Socrates, Jesus, Milarepa, Gurdjiev, Krishnamurti. |
 | People are governed with the head; kindness of heart is little use in chess. |
| The more physical the activity, the less the difficulties will be. The more the activity becomes intellectual and turns into motives, which exercise a determining influence on the commander’s will, the more the difficulties will increase. — Carl von Clausewitz, 1780-1831, Prussian military theorist |
 | A strange thing: The Enlightenment period in Italy ended when petty bloodthirsty tyrants were replaced by moderate monarchs. |
 | People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything. |
Latin Quotes
 | Let them hate, as long as they fear. Oderint, dum metuant. — Caligula, 12-41 AD, Roman Emperor (originally a verse by the poet Accius) 170 likes |
 | No one is able to rule unless he is also able to be ruled. Nemo autem regere potest nisi qui et regi. — Seneca, 5 AD-65 AD, Roman philosopher 33 likes |
 | Like king, like people. Qualis rex, talis grex. 21 likes |
| The governor does not deal with the small stuff. De minimis non curat praetor. (or: The law does not concern itself with trifles) 10 likes |
Funny Quotes
 | Being president is like running a cemetery: You’ve got a lot of people under you, and nobody’s listening. — Bill Clinton, 1946-, American President [1992-2000] 4 likes |
 | I always have the last word in my house and that word is usually “yes.” — Jules Renard, 1864-1910, French writer 4 likes |
Ancient Greek
 | Every ruler must remember three things. Firstly, that he rules men; secondly, that he rules according to law, and thirdly, that he does not rule for ever. Τον άρχοντα τριών δει μέμνησθαι: Πρώτον ότι ανθρώπων άρχει. Δεύτερον ότι κατά νόμους άρχει. Τρίτον ότι ουκ αεί άρχει. — Agathon, 450-400 BC, Ancient Greek tragic poet 6 likes |
 | The night likes to cause pain to the wise ruler. Φιλεί ωδίνας τίκτειν νυξ κυβερνήτη σοφώ. — Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Libation bearers 5 likes |
 | A king and a general has many cares. Πόλλ’ ανδρί βασιλεί και στρατηλάτη μέλει. — Euripides, 480-406 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian ‐ Iphigeneia at Aulis 4 likes |
 | He who has learned how to obey will know how to command. Άρχεσθαι μαθών άρχειν επιστήσει. — Solon, 630-560 BC, Ancient Greek lawmaker & philosopher 4 likes |
 | You should have served as an oarsman before you try to take the helm. Ερέτην χρήναι πρώτα γενέσθαι πριν πηδαλίοις επιχειρείν. — Aristophanes, 445-386 BC, Ancient Greek comic playwright ‐ Knights 3 likes |
 | A ruler should consider nothing mortal, but everything immortal. Τον άρχοντα χρήναι μηδέν φρονείν θνητόν, αλλά πάντ’ αθάνατα. — Chilon of Sparta, 6th cent. BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece 3 likes |
 | Many leaders is not a good thing. Let there be one ruler, one king. Ουκ αγαθόν πολυκοιρανίη. Είς κοίρανος έστω, είς βασιλεύς. — Homer, c. 800-750 BC, Ancient Greek Poet ‐ Iliad II 3 likes |
 | Often an entire city has suffered because of an evil man. Πολλάκι και ξύμπασα πόλις κακού ανδρός απηύρα. — Hesiod, 7th cent. BC, Ancient Greek poet ‐ Works and Days -240 2 likes |
Proverbs
 | A good chief gives, he does not take. — American Indian proverb ‐ Mohawk 4 likes |
 | Fish always stink from the head down. 2 likes |
| White men have too many chiefs. — American Indian proverb ‐ Nez Perce 2 likes |
