Marshall Goldsmith Quotes

Certainly I shall not be one of those who, having gained power, do not wish to use it.

The person who manages the state is me.

Taking power is fine. But what do you do when you are in power?

Power should be reserved for weightlifting and boats, and leadership really involves responsibility.

In politics, as in business, leadership is crucial.

Governance is a way of organizing, amplifying, and constraining power.

Those who enjoy responsibility usually get it; those who merely like exercising authority usually lose it.

I wanted the influence. In the end I wasn't very good at being a president. I looked out of the window and thought that the man cutting the lawn actually seemed to have more control over what he was doing.

Even when you’re in charge, you’re not sure who’s in charge.

Whether it's a blessing or a curse, it's a fact that we have power. Everyone—friend and enemy—looks to see how we use it, how we treat it, how we keep it.

We are defined by how we use our power.

Leadership is important in politics.

Why is everything always my decision?" I asked. Because you will not tolerate anything else." Oh, I remembered now. "Great", I whispered. - Anita to Jean-Claude

Advisers advise, and ministers decide.

The ruling power is always faced with the question, ‘In such and such circumstances, what would you do?’, whereas the opposition is not obliged to take responsibility or make any real decisions.

To rule is easy, to govern difficult.

It is a great matter to be in authority over others; for authority, if it be rightly used, will make you feared beyond your actual resources.

Somebody has to take responsibility for being a leader.

All leaders share something in common. They feel they are the only ones who can do the job.

Gotta watch out for directors.

To govern is to choose. To appear to be unable to choose is to appear to be unable to govern.

It takes tremendous discipline to control the influence, the power you have over other people's lives.

My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility.

Power has to be insecure to be responsive.

Every one, more or less, loves Power, yet those who most wish for it are seldom the fittest to be trusted with it.