Gary Payton Quotes

I think I'm a natural-born leader. I know how to bow down to authority if it's authority that I respect.

Authority is not a quality one person 'has', in the sense that he has property or physical qualities. Authority refers to an interpersonal relation in which one person looks upon another as somebody superior to him.

Learn to obey before you command.

Back in those days intimidation was the greatest tool the drill instructor had. Without that tool, he would not have had control.

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.

He who demands does not command.

Let them hate as long as they fear.

The first day of 'Liberty,' I was hanging around waiting for Ford to come in. Everybody told me how tough he was and not to say anything, or he'd single you out and get on you the whole shoot. But as he walked in, I got up and saluted him.

The coach is the boss at the end of the day. I do whatever he tells me and don't ask questions.

Drew never argues with me because I carry very heavy power tools all the time.

You can't be loved for long if you're not feared.

I never let them cough. They wouldn't dare.

There has to be absolute trust between the tiger and its master, but its master must be the master - there must be no mistake about that.

Don't talk to me about rules, dear. Wherever I stay I make the goddam rules.

I don't mind how much my Ministers talk, so long as they do what I say.

And I particularly like the whole thing of being boss. Boss and employee... It's the slave quality that I find very alluring.

Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.

Machiavelli taught me it was better to be feared than loved. Because if you are loved they sense you might be weak. I am a man of the people and help them but it is important to do so through strength.

Any non-commissioned officer is more of an enemy to a recruit, any schoolmaster to a pupil, then they are if they were free.

It is much safer to obey than to rule.

The man whose authority is recent is always stern.

It's my old girl that advises. She has the head. But I never own to it before her. Discipline must be maintained.

He who allows me to rule is in fact my master.

He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.

He was in charge of everything and I was to be wherever he wasn’t.