Yuan Shikai Quotes

African leaders work really under severe limitations and constraints.

The key things are about power and about growing up and realizing as you grow up that there are consequences for the choices you make, especially when you get seduced by power.

I’ve never formally been number 1 in the Party, but everybody keeps hanging around me, showing me deference. I have to give the nod on every important decision. I carry too much weight and that is not good for the Party or the state.

Those who have the most power - whether famous TV anchors, rich Hollywood moguls, judges, Members of Congress, or the president of the United States - must decide how to exert that power: for corruption or for good.

I did not set out to be beloved and just, only strong." 'A King can be better than that," the Prince insisted. "And so we all begin, determined to better our fathers' performances, knowing we can change the very nature of humanity, make it better, cleaner. But then daggers strike in the night, and peasants revolt, and all manner of atrocities become a necessity as breakfast. Only Princes believe in the greater good. Kings know there is only Reign, and all things may be committed in its holy name.

The position of power and having to make decisions that you don't necessarily want to make is always good conflict and good drama.

The trouble was, if you were a chief you had to think, you had to be wise.

When you're president, you have more power to help more people, but you also are the prisoner of circumstances as well, and countervailing political forces more.

The mistakes (of leaders) are amplified by the numbers who follow them without question. Charismatic leaders tend to build up followings, power structures and these power structures tend to be taken over by people who are corruptible. I don't think that the old saw about 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely' is accurate: I think power attracts the corruptible.

States are doomed when they are unable to distinguish good men from bad.

We can't do both. If you want us to lead, don't criticize us. And if you want us to play a supporting role, then tell us who is going to lead.

We have the authority to take action, but responsible authority means not only being able to take action, but knowing when and how to take that action.

Don't you dare get to the top and not know what to do.

I'm the person with the final say on everything. I really love being in that position.

As a commander-in-chief what you do and what you say has real consequences.

If yee would know a knave, give him a staffe.

I have also been touched by the dark side of power and leadership.

Our responsibility is one of decision, for to govern is to choose.

Yahya Khan wasn't interested in the government of the country, he was interested in power for its own sake and nothing else.

It's essential for a president to show strength from the very beginning, to make it very clear what is acceptable and not acceptable.

Consensus is the negation of leadership.

I never talk about being leaders and all the rest of it. I can only remember one or two occasions in my life when I actually issued orders, and I felt thoroughly miserable after doing it.

Power educates the potentate.

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.

The establishment uses that rationale all the time, and that's why we do what we do. But leadership requires some understanding that you can say no. People have base instincts, but the transcendent also appeal to them.