Quotes about leadership

The leader of the enterprise a woman.

They should rule who are able to rule best.

Dull, painstaking, technocratic work seldom moves bards and chroniclers in the same way as battlefield victories. Yet the great triumph of Henry’s leadership of the royal council in 1410–11 is that he realizes that nothing can proceed without it.

Most of all, he wanted so much to be a good king – attempting to please everyone all the time – that he inevitably displeased some.

Such a mercurial ruler could hardly be an inspiration to his people. Wise men do not follow leaders whom they suspect might later reproach them for their loyalty.

A leader must be utterly decisive, especially when giving orders that conflict with the ones from the day before.

Most people are indifferent, unless their self-interest is at stake. Then there are the chronic complainers. [...] Fortunately, there are those in every organization, few but invaluable, who know their responsibilities and seem to thrive on meeting them. They get things done. These are the ones we all rely upon, the people who take care of the rest of us, quiet leaders.

Leadership is rooted not in power and authority, but in service and wisdom.

The most important part of strategy is keeping your men alive. If you take care of your men, they’ll take care of you.

All the same, an officer should never be parted from his men in the moment of danger on any account whatsoever. Danger is the supreme moment of his career, his chance to show his manhood at its best. Honour and gallantry make him the master of the hour. What is more sublime than to face death at the head of a hundred men? Such a one will never find obedience fail him, for courage runs through the ranks like wine.

You must surely know by now, Winters, that a leader’s authority is limited to giving her followers orders that they will actually obey.

Those forced to make impossible choices are rarely loved. If it’s approval and reputation you care about, then you have no place here.