Leadership Quotes

"Leadership is intangible, and therefore no weapon ever designed can replace it."

- GEN Omar Bradley

"The test of a leader lies in the reaction and response of his followers. He should not have to impose authority. Bossiness in itself never made a leader He must make his influence felt by example and the instilling of confidence in his followers. The greatness of a leader is measured by the achievements of the led. This is the ultimate test of his effectiveness."

- GEN Omar Bradley

"I would caution you always to remember that an essential qualification of a good leader is the ability to recognize, select, and train junior leaders."

- GEN Omar Bradley

"I would say some are born. A person can be born with certain qualities of leadership: good physique, good mental capacity, curiosity, the desire to know. When you go to pick out the best pup in a litter of bird dogs, you pick out the pup even though he is only 6 weeks old. He is curious, going around looking into things, and that kind of dog usually turns out to be the best dog. But there are qualities one can improve on. A thorough knowledge of your profession is the first requirement of leadership and this certainly has to be acquired. Observing others is important—trying to determine what makes them stand out. That’s why I think we can learn a lot by studying past leaders. Studying Lee, other Civil War leaders, Jackson, Lincoln. Trying to see what made them great."

- GEN Omar Bradley

"It is, indeed, an observable fact that all leaders of men, whether as political figures, prophets, or soldiers, all those who can get the best out of others, have always identified themselves with high ideals."

- GEN Charles DeGaulle

"Soldiers will not follow any battle leader with confidence unless they know that he will require full performance of duty from every member of the team."

- GEN Dwight Eisenhower

"I think that there is something to the expression ’born to lead’. But there are many people who have the potential for leadership, just as there are probably many people born with the potential to be great artists that never have the opportunity or the training for the full development of their talents. I think leadership is a product of native ability plus environment By environment, I mean training and the opportunity to exercise leadership"

- GEN Dwight Eisenhower

"I would lay down my life for America, but I cannot trifle with my honor."

- John Paul Jones

"Over 2400 years ago, the Greek Historian Herodotus wrote a ‘History of the Persian Wars’ so that ’men’s actions may not be effaced by time nor the great and wondrous deeds’ of ’the Greeks be deprived of renown, Since that time countless writers have attempted to capture the essence of the great captains. In virtually every case great leaders have been those who gave extra effort and sought out challenge in all forms. There are no short cuts and sadly no easy ways to selfless leadership. Leadership is to be learned from experience and from study, toil, trial and error. The good things in life are worth striving for and nothing is more rewarding than leading soldiers.”"

- GEN Robert Kingston

"I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself. Do your duty in all things. You should never wish to do less."

- GEN Robert Lee

"You can assign a man to a leadership position, but no one will ever really be a leader until his appointment is ratified in the hearts and minds of his soldiers. The first thing to do in operating as a leader is be honest with The problem is there is much rhetoric in this business. There is not enough honesty with ourselves about just who we are and whether we are really perceived as a leader by our subordinates. An honest–to–God, soul searching, self–evaluation is in order—and very difficult to do. I think this is the first vital step as one goes about the business of becoming a better leader. Your soldiers will gauge how well you are doing. You can fool bosses, and at times even peers, but you can’t fool your subordinates. Look into their eyes—you’ll really learn something."

- GEN William Livsey

"The strength of the group is the strength of the leader—I am the first believer Leaders must have the quiet confidence, the certainty, of professional preparation and personal conviction that the task can and will be done. If so, it will."

- Vince Lombardi

"Leadership in the field depends to an important extent on one’s legs, and stomach, and nervous system, and on one’s ability to withstand hardships, and lack of sleep, and still be disposed energetically and aggressively to command men, to dominate men on the battlefield."

- GEN George Marshall

"You have to lead men in war by bringing them along to endure and display qualities of fortitude that are beyond the average man’s thought of what he should be expected to do. You have to inspire them when they are hungry and exhausted and desperately uncomfortable and in great danger; and only a man of positive characteristics of leadership, with the physical stamina that goes with it, can function under those conditions. Remember this: the truly great leader overcomes all difficulties, and campaigns and battles are nothing but a long series of difficulties to be overcome The lack of equipment, the lack of food, the lack of this or that are only excuses; the real leader displays his qualities in his triumph over adversity, however great it may be. Army officers are intelligent. Give them the bare tree, let them supply the leaves."

- GEN George Marshall

"He is what his home, his religion, his schooling, and the moral code and ideals of his society have made him. The Army cannot unmake him. It must reckon with the fact that he comes from a civilization in which aggression connected with the taking of life, is prohibited and unacceptable"

- BG S. L. A. Marshall

"In the midst of war, when all else is in flux, at least one thing stands fast. The methods, the self–discipline, and the personality that will best enable the officer to command efficiently during peace are identical with the requirements that fit him to shape new material most perfectly under the conditions of war. The power of decision develops only from practice. There is nothing mystic about it. It comes of a clear–eyed willingness to accept life’s risks, recognizing that only the enfeebled are comforted by thoughts of an existence devoid of struggle. It must be accepted that discipline does not break down under the strain of placing a testing demand upon the individual. It is sloth, not activity, that destroys discipline. There are no bad troops; there are only bad leaders."

- BG S. L. A. Marshall

"...every single soldier must know, before he goes into battle, how the little battle he is to fight fits into the larger picture, and how the success of his fighting will influence the battle as a whole."

- Field Marshall Montgomery

"The badge of rank which an officer wears on his coat is really a symbol of servitude to his men."

- GEN George Patton

"A good leader can’t get too far ahead of his followers."

- Franklin Roosevelt

"If I were asked to define leadership, I should say it is the projection of personality It is the most intensely personal thing in the world because it is just plain you. The qualities that distinguish a leader from other men are courage, will power, initiative, and knowledge. If you have not got those qualities you will not make a leader; if you have them, you will."

- Field Marshal Sir William Slim

"The rare quality of being an effective leader cannot be attributed to any single trait, practice, characteristic or ”Golden Rule“. Effective leadership is a delicate combination of integrity, perseverance, technical knowledge, mission awareness, a sense of fairness and genuine concern for one’s soldiers."

- SGM Sweeny

"A company commander’s first object should be to gain the love of his men, by treating them with every possible kindness and humanity, enquiring into their complaints, and when well–founded, seeing them redressed He should know every man of his company by name and character"

- Frederick Wilhelm von Steuben

"The test of character is not ’hanging in’ when you expect light at the end of the tunnel, but performance of duty and persistence of example when you know no light is coming. Leadership under pressure will often entail being a moralist, jurist, teacher, steward and philosopher."

- ADM James B. Stockdale

"Even with the gifts of human understanding and of professional competence arising from careful training, our military leader will not be complete without character, character which reflects inner strength and justified confidence in oneself."

- GEN Maxwell Taylor

"It is easy enough to provide soldiers with their basic needs—food and shelter, for example—but it takes skillful, imaginative and dedicated leaders to create an atmosphere where soldiers and their family members share a sense of purpose and belonging."

- GEN Maxwell Taylor

"The message is that better soldiers demand more from their leaders. In this sense authority flows from competence, not rank. You will find in the days ahead that your ability to lead will be challenged by young soldiers anxious to succeed. They will not challenge you from the bottom of the ladder but from the top. Your future as a leader will be based upon how well you learn to manage success."

- GEN Maxwell R. Thurman

"Remember that it is far better to follow well than to lead indifferently."

- John Vance

"He should give praise where praise is due, ungrudgingly by word of mouth or written order. He should show himself as frequently as possible to his troops and as impressively as possible. He should never indulge in sarcasm, which is being clever at someone else’s expense and always offends. He should tell his soldiers the truth, save when absolutely necessary to conceal plans."

- Lee Knowles

"No, I don’t agree with that. I think there are some men who have a better chance of developing into leaders. This primarily because of their interest in the activities that lead to leadership. I think most genius is the result of hard work; and any young man, if he has guts and stick–to–itiveness, can make good in life, if given an average body and mind. It’s up to the individual; but there must be a spark, a continuing curiosity."

- Albert C. Wedemeyer

"Trained commanders produce the best results under mission–type orders. These need only three things: —What is to be accomplished. —The coordinating factors necessary. —What help he can expect from you and others and how to get it."