Leadership Quotes

"To inspire men to greatness, one must first see their greatness before they see it themselves."

"A commander must know not only what he wants but why he wants it, and communicate both clearly."

"A general who cannot inspire men to follow him into darkness will never lead them into the light."

"A general must speak with one voice but listen with many ears, lest he become blind."

"In times of darkness, a general must be the light that guides his men toward purpose."

"A commander's legacy is written not in memoirs but in the character of those he commanded."

"To command is to serve; those who believe otherwise have mistaken authority for power."

"The whole of the business of war, and indeed almost the whole art of receiving visits, consists in so paying attention that you may know at every moment the exact condition of the opposite master of the house."

"Discipline is not mere compliance with orders. It is that quality of conduct which results from a true understanding of their purpose."

"I desire to live and to act as becomes a public man."

"The presence of discipline in any army is the measure of the efficiency and morality of that army."

"You may depend upon it that I take care of my own affairs and those of the public at the same time."

"It is not the business of a military commander to concern himself with the political reasons for the prosecution of a war."

"It is not the number of troops, but the spirit of the commander that wins battles."

"The welfare of my people is my primary concern."

"The greatest leaders are those who serve, not those who command."

"A man cannot be a good general unless he is a good man."

"In tactics, troops; in strategy, ideas."

"A commander must have moral authority, which comes from character and intellect."

"The difficult part is not in making decisions, but in making decisions stick."

"A commander's character must be beyond reproach."

"The mind of a leader must be like water: adaptable and flowing."

"The ability to remain calm under pressure distinguishes great leaders from ordinary ones."

"A commander must inspire confidence in both victory and defeat."

"Leadership is the art of making people do what you want them to do."

"A commander must master the art of reading silence."

"The art of leadership is making the difficult seem simple."

"A true leader is defined by what he does when no one is watching."

"A commander's first duty is to preserve the lives of his men."

"The art of command is knowing what to delegate and what to decide."