Niccolò Machiavelli on leadership

Rome remained free for four hundred years and Sparta eight hundred, although their citizens were armed all that time; but many other states that have been disarmed have lost their liberties in less than forty years.

Occasionally words must serve to veil the facts. But this must happen in such a way that no one becomes aware of it; or, if it should be noticed, excuses must be at hand, to be produced immediately.

There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first is excellent, the second good, and the third useless.

Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.

George S. Patton1885–1945Often credited to Thomas Paine

The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.

Henry Kissinger1923–2023

Being a leader is like being a lady, if you have to go around telling people you are one, you aren’t.

Margaret Thatcher1925–2013