Leader Quote by Abraham Lincoln
“Be with a leader when he is right, stay with him when he is still right, but, leave him when he is wrong.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Gettysburg Address, 1863
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.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
