Skip to content

Be with a leader when he is right, stay with him when he…

“Be with a leader when he is right, stay with him when he is still right, but, leave him when he is wrong.” quote by Abraham Lincoln
Download Open image
“Be with a leader when he is right, stay with him when he is still right, but, leave him when he is wrong.”

Abraham Lincoln

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Support leaders while they are correct, but withdraw support when they err.

In simple terms: Back good leaders, abandon bad ones.

Key Takeaway

Stay loyal to principle, not person.

Themes

leadership integrity loyalty

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advisory ethical

When to use this quote

  • team projects
  • political campaigns
  • organizational decisions
  • personal relationships

Key Concepts

ethical judgment political strategy

Questions to Reflect On

  • When have you stayed with a leader too long?
  • How do you assess a leader’s correctness?
A Different Perspective

Leaders may be wrong in subtle ways, making timing of withdrawal hard.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Abraham Lincoln

Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes

More Leader quotes

Browse all 10,680 Leader quotes