I always believe the rule by king or official leader is outdated. Now we must catch up with the modern world.

My favourite president, and the one I admired most, was Harry Truman.

The proper study of Man is anything but Man; and the most improper job of any man, even saints (who at any rate were at least unwilling to take it on), is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity.

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

I just think overall there’s not as many female ministers than there are male ministers.

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

So, for example, a country was into recession right after I was sworn in, a dot-com bust had taken place. Then the attacks of September the 11th, and then of course the great financial meltdown in the -the fundamental question facing any presidency is how do you deal with the hand you’re dealt?

I often say of George Washington that he was one of the few in the whole history of the world who was not carried away by power.

As president, I’m committed to making Washington work better and rebuilding the trust of the people who sent us here.

The President’s post should not be politicised. Once a president is elected, he is above politics.

The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong, unless proved otherwise.

When you’re not engaged in the day-to-day struggles that everybody feels, you slowly start losing touch. And I think it’s important for the people in the White House to have a finger on the pulse.

We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.

Concede that the new government of Louisiana is only to what it should be, as the egg is to the fowl; we shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it.

Before we acquire great power we must acquire wisdom to use it well.

I’m a mentor to anybody who’s interested.

A lot of churches have not moved with the times.

Power is the measure of the degree of control you have over circumstances in your life and the actions of the people around you. It is a skill that is developed by a deep understanding of human nature, of what truly motivates people, and of the manipulations necessary for advancement and protection.

In politics nothing is contemptible.

Sadly, the truth is, there aren’t many people who can be put in high positions who won’t start thinking highly of themselves.

I realized why directors are such horrible people – in a way – because you want things to be right, and people will just not listen to you, and there is no time to be nice to people, no time to be delicate.

When you’re around the kids, you feel like you act the most grown up just because you’re supposed to lead. I say things, like every other parent, that reminds you of your own parents. One thing I do know about being a parent, you understand why your father was in a bad mood a lot.

A leader is a dealer in hope.

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

If the American people don’t love me, their descendants will.

Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.

Some single mind must be master, else there will be no agreement in anything.

When a team takes ownership of its problems, the problem gets solved. It is true on the battlefield, it is true in business, and it is true in life.

Our brand of democracy is hard. But I can promise that a year from now, when I no longer hold this office, I’ll be right there with you as a citizen – inspired by those voices of fairness and vision, of grit and good humor and kindness that have helped America travel so far.

Cruel leaders are replaced only to have new leaders turn cruel.

Presidents quickly realize that while a single act might destroy the world they live in, no one single decision can make life suddenly better or can turn history around for the good.

Most people don’t like change. They revolt against it unless they can clearly see the advantage it brings. For that reason, when good leaders prepare to take action or make changes, they take people through a process to get them ready for it.

The 21st century is going to be the American century. Because we lead not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. That is the history of the journey of America.

People invest in businesses that they believe have the leadership, mission and team to grow and operate profitably.

In every society some men are born to rule, and some to advise.

People want to listen to a message, word from Jah. This could be passed through me or anybody. I am not a leader. Messenger. The words of the songs, not the person, is what attracts people.

Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom; and a great empire and little minds go ill together.

When I took over as president, I studied the Constitution, and the more I studied it, the more I realised that it does not prevent the president of India from giving the nation a vision. So when I went and presented this vision in Parliament and in legislative assemblies; everyone welcomed it, irrespective of party affiliations.

The leaders come up from the volunteers that do the work, and it’s amazing because then they do these incredible things in their community that they never thought they had the power to make that happen.

I can die a happy man never having been president of the United States of America. But it doesn’t mean I won’t run.

Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.

I loved being Secretary of State, that’s probably evident to everyone who watched me.

It’s OK for China to invent cancer drugs that cure patients in the United States. We want them to catch up. But as the leader, we want to keep setting a very, very high standard. We don’t want them to catch up because we’re slowing down or, even worse, going into reverse.

It constitutes a superhuman effort to lead any people in times of crisis. Without them, the changes would be impossible.

Self-centered leaders manipulate when they move people for personal benefit. Mature leaders motivate by moving people for mutual benefit.

You know I vowed when I became President not to talk about the loneliest toughest job in the world and I didn’t.

The President is going to benefit from me reporting directly to him when I arrive.

Anything important is never left to the vote of the people. We only get to vote on some man; we never get to vote on what he is to do.

Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.

I want a president with a record of public service: someone whose life’s work shows our children that we don’t chase form and fortune for ourselves; we fight to give everyone a chance to succeed.

I’m more than comfortable just sitting back and scoring 21, 22 points or whatever and getting 10, 11 assists whatever the case might be. More than comfortable with that. It’s just a matter of the pieces that you have around you and what you can do to elevate everybody else.

Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.

Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.

You can tell the tree by the fruit it bears. You see it through what the organization is delivering as far as a concrete program. If the tree’s fruit sours or grows brackish, then the time has come to chop it down – bury it and walk over it and plant new seeds.

Our chief justices have probably had more profound and lasting influence on their times and on the direction of the nation than most presidents.

Decisiveness is a characteristic of high-performing men and women. Almost any decision is better than no decision at all.

What Britain needs is an iron lady.

I think I was identified as a failed president because I wasn’t re-elected.

In other words, don’t expect to always be great. Disappointments, failures and setbacks are a normal part of the lifecycle of a unit or a company and what the leader has to do is constantly be up and say ‚we have a problem, let’s go and get it‘.

I have been on the road and visited numerous places and met people from all over the globe. I can say that it looks nearly the same everywhere I have been: The climate crisis is ignored by people in charge, despite the science being crystal clear.

I will only hire someone to work directly for me if I would work for that person. It’s a pretty good test.