"Successful leaders don’t start out asking, "What do I want to do?" They ask, "What needs to be done?" Then they ask, "Of those things that would make a difference, which are right for me?" They don’t tackle things they aren’t good at. They make sure other necessities get done, but not by them. Successful leaders make sure that they succeed! They are not afraid of strength in others. Andrew Carnegie wanted to put on his gravestone, "Here lies a man who knew how to put into his service more able men than he was himself.""

"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."

"It is not a question of how well each process works, the question is how well they all work together."

"The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor. That sums up the progress of an artful leader."

"I never had much faith in leaders. I am willing to be charged with almost anything, rather than to be charged with being a leader. I am suspicious of leaders, and especially of the intellectual variety. Give me the rank and file every day in the week."

"When...perfect order.. prevails, the world is like a Commonwealth State shared by all, not a dictatorship. Virtuous, worthy, wise and capable people are chosen as leaders... Honesty and trust are promoted, and good neighborliness cultivated... All people respect and love their own parents and children, as well as the parents and children of others... The aged are cared for until death; adults are employed in jobs that make full use of their abilities; and children are nourished, educated, and fostered;...orphans... the disabled and the diseased are all well taken care of.... They hate not to make use of their abilities... they do not necessarily work for their own self-interest... Thus intrigues and conspiracies do not arise, and thievery and robbery do not occur; therefore doors need never be locked.. This is the ideal world – a perfect world of equality, fraternity, harmony, welfare, and justice."

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

"Persistence in a single view has never been regarded as a merit in political leaders."

"A leader has to appear consistent. That doesn't mean he has to be consistent."

"A leader must have the courage to act against an expert's advice."

""Safety first" has been the motto of the human race for half a million years; but it has never been the motto of leaders. A leader must face danger. He must take the risk and the blame, and the brunt of the storm."