Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

A good leader... maintains a balance between emotional drive and sound thinking.

[T]here's a difference between confident leadership and empty-headed delusion or cheerleading. And this is a difference that many CEOs miss.

Leadership is only courage and wisdom, and a great carefulness of self.

The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.

The object of leadership may be stated as having a system whereby a leader recognizes what is good for the good of the government, for the good of the nation, for the good of humanity, and recognizes the qualities he has and what he can do within his own limitations. He cannot do, and should not attempt to do, the impossible, but he should not fail to attempt something that might be extremely difficult and may be possible.

A leader who loses his connection to his people soon loses the ability to lead them.

Quality effective leaders have the confidence to trust others to try, succeed, and sometimes to fail. We very often confuse personality with leadership. In other words, leadership is not about being a nice person or not a nice person.

Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.

Strategy was first used in Athens (508 BC) to describe the art of leadership used by the ten generals on the war council. Some argue for the more creative, human side, while others argue for the more analytic side of strategy.

People will not follow a leader who does not have confidence in himself.

No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.

I think you either have to have a very strong decisive person at the top or else a really brilliant staff command.

If you can become the leader you ought to be on the inside, you will be able to become the person you want on the outside. People will want to follow you. And when that happens, you'll be able to tackle anything in this world.

I happen to believe that if we want to replace a lifetime politician like Barack Obama, who had no experience leading anything... We've got to nominate a leader if we're going to replace someone who is not a leader.

That's because I've learned how to use it [smile], Woserit said. I don't pass it out like an old woman giving free milk to the village cats. It's something that must be controlled, and for you especially. You use it on anyone. You must learn to be more judicious.

I really believe being a good listener is important for anybody, and particularly for somebody who wants to be a leader.

Napoleon wanted his generals to be lucky. I don't think he would have worked with me.

I believe a big part of leadership is about winning the moment.

Effective leadership is the only competitive advantage that will endure. That's because leadership has two sides- what a person is character and what a person does- competence.

If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

Those [presidents] who were strongest intellectually were also strongest spiritually.

Quality effective leaders have the confidence to trust others to try, succeed, and sometimes to fail.

The wisest among us - the genuine leaders - smile in the face of adversity.

We need a serious leader to deal with this. And I believe I'm that guy.

The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.