Top Leadership Quotes

Great collection of leadership quotes from people like Abraham Lincoln, Kobe Bryant, Tom Brady, Ronald Reagan, May Angelou, John F. Kennedy, Plato and so much more.

“In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” ~Harry Truman
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” ~Abraham Lincoln
“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 future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” ~Malcolm X
“Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” ~Dale Carnegie
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou

“Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.” ~Tom Peters

“Leaders aren’t born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.” ~Vince Lombardi
“It’s not about money or connections – it’s the willingness to outwork and outlearn everyone.” ~Mark Cuban
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” ~John D. Rockefeller
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” ~Dr. Seuss
“If you don’t believe in yourself, why is anyone else going to believe in you.” ~Tom Brady
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” ~Michael Jordan
“You don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader.” ~Henry Ford
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” ~John F. Kennedy
“If you want to improve the organization, you have to improve yourself and the organization gets pulled up with you.” ~Indra Nooyi, former Pepsi CEO
“A leader. . .is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.” ~Nelson Mandela
“My brain . . . It cannot process failure. It will not process failure. Because if I sit there and have to face myself and tell myself, ‘You’re a failure’ . . . I think that’s almost worse than death.” ~Kobe Bryant
“Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order.” ~John Adams
“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, founder of Walmart
“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 sidelines are not where you want to live your life. The world needs you in the arena.” ~Tim Cook, Apple CEO
“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” ~Stephen R. Covey
“A leader is a dealer in hope.” ~Napoleon Bonaparte
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” ~John Quincy Adams
“A tyrant is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader.” ~Plato
“A boss has the title, a leader has the people.” ~Simon Sinek
“Talent is never enough. With few exceptions the best players are the hardest workers.” ~Magic Johnson
“To lead people, walk beside them. As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence … When the best leader’s work is done, the people say, ‘We did it ourselves!’” ~Lao Tzu
“Forget about the fast lane. If you really want to fly, just harness your power to your passion.” ~Oprah Winfrey
“To be a leader, you have to make people want to follow you, and nobody wants to follow someone who doesn’t know where he is going.” ~Joe Namath
“Knowing what must be done does away with fear.” ~Rosa Parks
“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” ~John F. Kennedy

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” ~Confucius

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” ~Warren Buffett
“Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” ~George Patton
“The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” ~Amelia Earhart
“Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” ~Michael Jordan
“Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well.” ~Dwight D. Eisenhower
“You do not lead by hitting people over the head – that’s assault, not leadership.” ~Dwight D. Eisenhower
“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” ~Leonardo da Vinci
“An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage.” ~Jack Welch, former General Electric CEO