104 Leadership Quotes by Famous People (LEADERS)

12 Most Famous Leadership Quotes to Inspire You (LEAD FROM THE FRONT)

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson — Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. – **Ralph Waldo Emerson**

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will all say: we did it ourselves. - Lao Tzu — A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will all say: we did it ourselves. – **Lao Tzu**

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. - Jack Welch — Before you are a leader, **success** is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. – **Jack Welch**

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. - Steve Jobs — **Innovation** distinguishes between a leader and a follower. – **Steve Jobs**

I must follow the people. Am I not their leader? - Benjamin Disraeli — I must follow the people. Am I not their leader? – **Benjamin Disraeli**

Outstanding leaders go out of the way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish. - Sam Walton — Outstanding leaders go out of the way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish. – **Sam Walton**

Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating those who work with me and aiming their efforts at a certain goal. - Walt Disney — Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating those who work with me and aiming their efforts at a certain goal. – **Walt Disney**

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus. - Martin Luther King. Jr. — A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus. – **Martin Luther King. Jr.**

I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples. - Mother Teresa — I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples. – **Mother Teresa**

A leader is a dealer in hope. - Napoleon Bonaparte — A leader is a dealer in **hope**. – **Napoleon Bonaparte**

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. - Abraham Lincoln — Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s **character**, give him power. – **Abraham Lincoln**

You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life. - Winston Churchill — You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life. – **Winston Churchill**

Leadership consists of picking good men and helping them do their best.

46 Inspirational Leadership Quotes to Empower You (MOTIVATE)

“The true mark of a leader is the willingness to stick with a bold course of action — an unconventional business strategy, a unique product-development roadmap, a controversial marketing campaign — even as the rest of the world wonders why you’re not marching in step with the status quo. In other words, real leaders are happy to zig while others zag. They understand that in an era of hyper-competition and non-stop disruption, the only way to stand out from the crowd is to stand for something special.”
Bill Taylor

Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence. - Sheryl Sanberg — Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence. – Sheryl Sanberg

I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people. - Mahatma Gandhi — I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people. – **Mahatma Gandhi**

A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better. - Jim Rohn — A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better. – **Jim Rohn**

To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart. - Eleanor Roosevelt — To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart. – **Eleanor Roosevelt**

Time is neutral and does not change things. With courage and initiative, leaders change things. - Jesse Jackson — **Time** is neutral and does not **change** things. With **courage** and initiative, leaders change things. – **Jesse Jackson**

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. - John Quincy Adams — If your **actions** inspire others to **dream** more, **learn** more, do more and become more, you are a leader. – **John Quincy Adams**

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 — 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**

“The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them.”
John Maxwell

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 — 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**

The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet. - Theodore M. Hesburgh — The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet. – Theodore M. Hesburgh

A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be. - Rosalynn Carter — A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be. – **Rosalynn Carter**

Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. - Warren Bennis — Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. – Warren Bennis

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. - Peter Drucker — Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. – **Peter Drucker**

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. - John Maxwell — A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. – **John Maxwell**

I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody. - Herbert Swope — I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody. – Herbert Swope

“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not a bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.”
Jim Rohn

The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves. - Ray Kroc — The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves. – **Ray Kroc**

Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence, and inspiration. - Robin S. Sharma — Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence, and inspiration. – **Robin S. Sharma**

A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them. - M. D. Arnold — A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them. – M. D. Arnold

People who are truly strong lift others up. People who are truly powerful bring others together. - Michelle Obama — People who are truly strong lift others up. People who are truly powerful bring others together. – **Michelle Obama**

The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. - Max DePree — The first **responsibility** of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. – Max DePree

Lead from the back and let others believe they are in front. - Nelson Mandela — Lead from the back and let others believe they are in front. – **Nelson Mandela**

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. - John F. Kennedy — Leadership and **learning** are indispensable to each other. – **John F. Kennedy**

“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. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”
Douglas MacArthur

If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea. - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry — If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea. – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently. - Warren Buffett — It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently. – **Warren Buffett**

The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails. - John Maxwell — The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to **change**. The leader adjusts the sails. – **John Maxwell**

Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work. - Seth Godin — Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work. – **Seth Godin**

You don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader. - Henry Ford — You don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader. – **Henry Ford**

Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position. - Brian Tracy — Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position. – **Brian Tracy**

A boss has the title, a leader has the people. - Simon Sinek — A boss has the title, a leader has the people. – **Simon Sinek**

“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.”
Warren Bennis

He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander. - Aristotle — He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander. – **Aristotle**

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. - Chuck Swindoll — We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. – Chuck Swindoll

The nation will find it very hard to look up to the leaders who are keeping their ears to the ground. - Winston Churchill — The nation will find it very hard to look up to the leaders who are keeping their ears to the ground. – **Winston Churchill**

One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency. - Arnold Glasow — One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency. – Arnold Glasow

We cannot lead anyone farther than we have been ourselves. - John Maxwell — We cannot lead anyone farther than we have been ourselves. – **John Maxwell**

If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader. - Dolly Parton — If your **actions** create a **legacy** that inspires others to **dream** more, **learn** more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader. – **Dolly Parton**

“Leaders need to provide strategy and direction and to give employees the tools that enable them to gather information and insight from around the world. Leaders shouldn’t try to make every decision.”
Bill Gates

Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days. - Zig Ziglar — Lack of direction, not lack of **time**, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days. – **Zig Ziglar**

Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen. - Michael Jordan — Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen. – **Michael Jordan**

I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. - Ralph Nader — I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. – Ralph Nader

One voice can change a room. - Barack Obama — One voice can change a room. – **Barack Obama**

Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway. - Eleanor Roosevelt — Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway. – **Eleanor Roosevelt**

46 Inspiring Great Leadership Quotes (GUIDANCE)

“No leader sets out to be a leader. People set out to live their lives, expressing themselves fully. When that expression is of value, they become leaders. So the point is not to become a leader. The point is to become yourself, to use yourself completely – all your skills, gifts and energies – in order to make your vision manifest. You must withhold nothing. You must, in sum, become the person you started out to be, and to enjoy the process of becoming.”
Warren Bennis

True leadership lies in guiding others to success--in ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do and doing it well. - Bill Owens — True leadership lies in guiding others to success–in ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do and doing it well. – Bill Owens

Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others. - Robert Louis Stevenson — Keep your **fears** to yourself, but share your **courage** with others. – **Robert Louis Stevenson**

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. - Mother Teresa — Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. – **Mother Teresa**

Leadership is the ability to guide others without force into a direction or decision that leaves them still feeling empowered and accomplished. - Lisa Cash Hanson — Leadership is the ability to guide others without force into a direction or decision that leaves them still feeling empowered and accomplished. – Lisa Cash Hanson

Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes. - Peter Drucker — Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes. – Peter Drucker

“Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It’s about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others’ success, and then standing back and letting them shine.”
Chris Hadfield

Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you’re in control, they’re in control. - Tom Landry — Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you’re in control, they’re in control. – **Tom Landry**

Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results. - George Patton — Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results. – **George Patton**

The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership. - Harvey S. Firestone — The **growth** and development of people is the highest calling of leadership. – Harvey S. Firestone

Failing organizations are usually over-managed and under-led. – **Stephen Covey**

A leader is a person you will follow to a place you would not go by yourself. - Joel Barker — A leader is a person you will follow to a place you would not go by yourself. – Joel Barker

Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not. - Oprah Winfrey — Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not. – **Oprah Winfrey**

“Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.”
General Colin Powell

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. - Maya Angelou — If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your **attitude**. – **Maya Angelou**

People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss drives. - Theodore Roosevelt — People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss drives. – **Theodore Roosevelt**

People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision. - John Maxwell — People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision. – **John Maxwell**

The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. - Leo Buscaglia — The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. – **Leo Buscaglia**

The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes. - Tony Blair — The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes. – Tony Blair

To do great things is difficult; but to command great things is more difficult. - Friedrich Nietzsche — To do great things is difficult; but to command great things is more difficult. – **Friedrich Nietzsche**

Often poor leadership is masked by those with the loudest voices and strongest opinions. - Nick Fewings — Often poor leadership is masked by those with the loudest voices and strongest opinions. – Nick Fewings

The difference between a boss and a leader: a boss says ‘Go!’ – a leader says, ‘Let’s go!’ - E.M Kelly — The difference between a boss and a leader: a boss says ‘Go!’ – a leader says, ‘Let’s go!’ – E.M Kelly

People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything. – **Thomas Sowell**

“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

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 — 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

A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit. - Arnold Glasow — A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit. – Arnold Glasow

No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it. - Andrew Carnegie — No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it. – **Andrew Carnegie**

A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd. - Max Lucado — A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd. – **Max Lucado**

The role of leadership is to transform the complex situation into small pieces and prioritize them. - Carlos Ghosn — The role of leadership is to transform the complex situation into small pieces and prioritize them. – Carlos Ghosn

Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems. - Brian Tracy — Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems. – Brian Tracy

The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there. - John Buchan — The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there. – John Buchan

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. - William Arthur Ward — The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. – **William Arthur Ward**

“Leadership is not magnetic personality, that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not ‘making friends and influencing people,’ that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to higher sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.”
Peter F. Drucker

You take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go. - Jeanette Rankin — You take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go. – Jeanette Rankin

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. - Kenneth Blanchard — The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. – Kenneth Blanchard

As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others. - Bill Gates — As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others. – **Bill Gates**

Lead and inspire people. Don’t try to manage and manipulate people. Inventories can be managed but people must be led. - Ross Parot — Lead and inspire people. Don’t try to manage and manipulate people. Inventories can be managed but people must be led. – Ross Parot

A leader is someone who holds her- or himself accountable for finding the potential in people and processes. - Brené Brown — A leader is someone who holds her- or himself accountable for finding the potential in people and processes. – **Brené Brown**

Average leaders raise the bar on themselves; good leaders raise the bar for others; great leaders inspire others to raise their own bar. - Orrin Woodward — Average leaders raise the bar on themselves; good leaders raise the bar for others; great leaders inspire others to raise their own bar. – Orrin Woodward

Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy. - Norman Schwarzkopf — Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and **character**. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy. – **Norman Schwarzkopf**

Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them. - John Maxwell — Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them. – **John Maxwell**

A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible. - Polybius — A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible. – Polybius

Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand. - Collin Powell — Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand. – **Collin Powell**

Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing. - Tom Peters — Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing. – Tom Peters

Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership. - Donald Rumsfeld — Don’t necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership. – Donald Rumsfeld

Throughout the centuries there were men who took the first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision. - Ayn Rand — Throughout the centuries there were men who took the first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision. – **Ayn Rand**

The mark of a great man is one who knows when to set aside the important things in order to accomplish the vital ones. - Brandon Sanderson — The mark of a great man is one who knows when to set aside the important things in order to accomplish the vital ones. – Brandon Sanderson

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. - Thomas Jefferson — In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. – **Thomas Jefferson**

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. - Winston Churchill — Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. – **Winston Churchill**

Conclusion: This is What Makes a Good Leader

In the past, being a leader may mean being the loudest or the strongest. Today, being a leader requires emotional intelligence and excellent interpersonal skills.

To put it simply, it is not enough to have physical attributes. Being a leader in today’s world requires inspiring vision and motivating a team to work hard toward a common goal.

But that’s good news… because everyone can lead today. Leadership is not about seniority or your position in a company. It is about inspiring others and yourself to do the right thing.

Further reading:

The Most Important Leadership Competencies, According to Leaders Around the World – Harvard Business Review
What Is Leadership? – Mind Tools
The Definition of Leadership – The Balance SMB
8 Essential Qualities That Define Great Leadership – Forbes
What Are The Top Leadership Skills That Make a Great Leader? – Smarp

Here are the best leadership quotes so you can talk less; listen more and be inspired to make the right decisions instead of the ‘safe’ ones.

(MUST READ)

Also read:

12 Most Famous Leadership Quotes to Inspire You (LEAD FROM THE FRONT)

46 Inspirational Leadership Quotes to Empower You (MOTIVATE)

46 Inspiring Great Leadership Quotes (GUIDANCE)

Conclusion: This is What Makes a Good Leader

6 Famous Scottie Pippen Quotes (LAST DANCE)

41 Famous Peter F. Drucker Quotes (MANAGEMENT)