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It is tempting to call for better leadership, but we…

“It is tempting to call for better leadership, but we probably expect too much from the leaders of the nations. Those nations are too big, the connections not strong enough, the commitment to the future not long enough. It is better to look smaller, to our now-smaller organisations, to local…” quote by Charles Handy
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“It is tempting to call for better leadership, but we probably expect too much from the leaders of the nations. Those nations are too big, the connections not strong enough, the commitment to the future not long enough. It is better to look smaller, to our now-smaller organisations, to local communities and cities, to families and clusters of friends, to small networks of portfolio people with time to give to something bigger than themselves. We have to fashion our own directions in our own places.”

Charles Handy

About This Quote

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

Large nations are too unwieldy for effective leadership; focus on smaller, more connected groups for meaningful change.

In simple terms: Big nations lack tight bonds; look to local groups.

Key Takeaway

Empower local communities.

Themes

leadership community scale agency

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • city planning
  • neighborhood initiatives
  • family decisions
  • friend circles
  • small business networks

Key Concepts

social capital decentralization collective action

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can small networks influence larger systems?
  • What structures support local empowerment?
A Different Perspective

Local groups may lack resources to scale impact.

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