50 Lead Quotes to Bring out the Leader in You

By Norbert Juma

Master quote curator and editor on a mission to inspire

Published February 1, 2023

Lead quotes are inspirational and can give you a hint to be successful in life.

If you want to be inspired by the best quotes, we have something for you to share.

Generally, leaders do have specific qualities that differentiate them from others.

These qualities help them lead and guide their communities.

Before getting to the quotes section, let’s look at the leadership qualities a leader usually possesses.

5 Most Prominent Qualities of a Leader

Almost all successful leaders have something in common: their leadership qualities.

True leaders display these qualities in their professional and personal lives.

Personal Development and Self-awareness

A leader focuses on his/her personal development.

Leaders also make sure to develop their emotional intelligence.

They try to refine this quality by accepting feedback from the people around them.

For this purpose, they work on their listening abilities.

They are always ready to change their behavior and interaction with others.

Carefully Monitoring of the Others

This particular leadership quality relies on the theory of situational leadership.

According to this theory, leaders adapt to what others like or prefer.

The major aspects of situational leadership include coaching, delegating, and mentoring.

Hence, leaders monitor what others expect from them under specific circumstances.

Encouragement of Strategic Thinking

As a leader, you need to look forward and take the measures that will be beneficial in the future.

You also need to think about the future of those who are following you as their leader.

This is something that plays a key role in making strategic decisions.

Leaders also take into account the internal factors of their community or organization.

Their actions are considered roadmaps.

Cross-Cultural Communication Skills

This is another quality that you normally find in a successful leader.

Leaders can communicate with each section of the community with powerful verbal skills.

In business and organizational setups, a leader communicates with every stakeholder irrespective of race or social stature.

Believe in Ethical Values

Leaders with a vast following think about the ethical value of every decision.

In addition, they keep in mind the ethical outcomes of their decisions.

Because the lack of ethical values can damage the credibility of a leader.

Check out our collection of leadership quotes if you enjoy this article.

Top 10 Lead Quotes

Enjoy these top quotes by popular figures around the world.

1. “To lead people, walk behind them.” — Lao Tzu

2. “The good and the wise lead quiet lives.” — Euripides

3. “I don’t go by the rule book… I lead from the heart, not the head.” — Princess Diana

4. “The real leader has no need to lead – he is content to point the way.” — Henry Miller

5. “If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” — Frank A. Clark

6. “A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.” — Max Lucado

7. “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” — Carl Jung

8. “We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.” — George S. Patton

9. “Sometimes things aren’t clear right away. That’s where you need to be patient and persevere and see where things lead.” — Mary Pierce

10. “No, we don’t own our children. Our parental privilege is to love them, to lead them, and to let them go.” — Russell M. Nelson

Lead Quotes for Success in Life

Reading these lead quotes can help you gain confidence and stay determined.

11. “One’s real life is so often the life that one does not lead.” — Oscar Wilde

12. “You can’t lead anyone else further than you have gone yourself.” — Gene Mauch

13. “I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail.” — Muriel Strode

14. “Resist your fear; fear will never lead to you a positive end. Go for your faith and what you believe.” — T. D. Jakes

15. “You just have to have the guidance to lead you in the direction until you can do it yourself.” — Tina Yothers

16. “Leadership is not a popularity contest; it’s about leaving your ego at the door. The name of the game is to lead without a title.” — Robin S. Sharma

17. “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.” — Henry David Thoreau

18. “People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead.” — James Baldwin

19. “As different streams having different sources all mingle their waters in the sea, so different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to God.” — Swami Vivekananda

20. “I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else – I can give my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.” — Queen Elizabeth II

Lead Quotes with a Strong Message

Quotes with a strong message are relatively more popular than others. This is also the case with the lead quotes listed below.

21. “Too much freedom can lead to the soul’s decay.” — Prince

22. “You can lead a man to Congress, but you can’t make him think.” — Milton Berle

23. “Divide and rule, the politician cries; unite and lead, is watchword of the wise.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

24. “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg

25. “Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control; these three alone lead life to sovereign power.” — Alfred Lord Tennyson

26. “Nothing so conclusively proves a man’s ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself.” — Thomas J. Watson

27. “One of the most important actions, things a leader can do, is to lead by example. If you want everyone else to be passionate, committed, dedicated, and motivated, you go first.” — Marshall Goldsmith

28. “The highest calling of leadership is to challenge the status quo and unlock the potential of others. We need a leader who will lead the resurgence of this great nation and unlock its potential once again.” — Carly Fiorina

29. “When leaders know how to lead great meetings, there’s less time wasted and less frustration. We have more energy to do the work that matters, realize our full potential, and do great things.” — Justin Rosenstein

30. “It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.” — Nelson Mandela

Lead Quotes that are bound to inspire you

Just going through these lead quotes can inspire you to go ahead and lead. So, let’s get inspiration from these great quotes.

31. “You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead.” — Stan Laurel

32. “You don’t lead by hitting people over the head – that’s assault, not leadership.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower

33. “Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes.” — Lewis Grizzard

34. “Economics is everywhere, and understanding economics can help you make better decisions and lead a happier life.” — Tyler Cowen

35. “Keep a cool head and maintain a low profile. Never take the lead – but aim to do something big.” — Deng Xiaoping

36. “Science, my lad, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make, because they lead little by little to the truth.” — Jules Verne

37. “America is the land of the second chance – and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.” — George W. Bush

38. “Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.” — Morihei Ueshiba

39. “I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside.” — Whitney Houston

40. “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.” — Niccolo Machiavelli

Lead Quotes to Boost your Morale

These lead quotes can help boost your morale if you feel down. You just need to read these quotes carefully for a better understanding.

41. “Often, bumpy roads lead to beautiful places.” — Dave Martinez

42. “Lead us not into temptation. Just tell us where it is; we’ll find it.” — Sam Levenson

43. “The majority of meetings should be discussions that lead to decisions.” — Patrick Lencioni

44. “I believe that all roads lead to the same place – and that is wherever all roads lead to.” — Willie Nelson

45. “Anger begets more anger, and forgiveness and love lead to more forgiveness and love.” — Mahavira

46. “Frustration is fuel that can lead to the development of an innovative and useful idea.” — Marley Dias

47. “When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself.” — Jacques Yves Cousteau

48. “Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” — Louisa May Alcott

49. “Romantic love is an illusion. Most of us discover this truth at the end of a love affair or else when the sweet emotions of love lead us into marriage and then turn down their flames.” — Thomas Moore

50. “Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will we should always have sufficient means. It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld