---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to become the master, a ruler…"
description: "\"In order to become the master, a ruler must profess to be a servant of the people.\" — Ashwin Sanghi"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/ashwin-sanghi-3271_masters_in-order-to-become-the-master-a-ruler-mu_834049.png"
---

#  In order to become the master, a ruler must profess to be…

![“In order to become the master, a ruler must profess to be a servant of the people.” quote by Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/ashwin-sanghi-3271_masters_in-order-to-become-the-master-a-ruler-mu_834049.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/ashwin-sanghi-3271_masters_in-order-to-become-the-master-a-ruler-mu_834049.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/ashwin-sanghi-3271_masters_in-order-to-become-the-master-a-ruler-mu_834049.png)

> “In order to become the master, a ruler must profess to be a servant of the people.”

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

## About This Quote

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

A ruler must appear as a servant to truly master leadership, emphasizing humility as a path to authority

**In simple terms:** Leaders should act like servants to gain genuine power

Key Takeaway

Lead through humility to earn true authority

Themes

leadership humility service power politics

Mood

inspirational thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- Political science
- organizational management
- public service
- leadership training

Key Concepts

Servant leadership political theory ethical governance

Questions to Reflect On

- Is genuine service possible in authoritarian regimes?
- How does humility translate to effective governance?

A Different Perspective

Servitude can be exploited for personal gain

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Master Ruler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/master-ruler-584501/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Profess Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profess-servant-584500/) [Ruler Profess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruler-profess-584502/) [Rulers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rulers/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Servant People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant-people-584503/)

## Related quotes

> [It's not just in politics that you can be a servant of the people, you can do it in so many other ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corazon-aquino/it-s-not-just-in-politics-that-you-can-be-a-servant-of-the-people-you/)

[Corazon Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corazon-aquino/)

> [“I work as a servant to people, driving them all over, the whole day, sometimes the whole week, answering yes sir, yes madam, bowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imbolo-mbue/i-work-as-a-servant-to-people-driving-them-all-over-the-whole-day/)

[Imbolo Mbue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imbolo-mbue/)

> [“Servant of the people is samurai sacred.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/servant-of-the-people-is-samurai-sacred/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [Marty Russo was too good a golfer to be a servant of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/marty-russo-was-too-good-a-golfer-to-be-a-servant-of-the-people/)

[Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/)

> [Being of service is not enough. You must become a servant of the people. When you do, you can demand their commitment in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/being-of-service-is-not-enough-you-must-become-a-servant-of-the/)

[Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/)

> [I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you, the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-stand-here-before-you-not-as-a-prophet-but-as-a-humble-servant-of/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [“If any of you want to be the greatest, then you must become the least, and become like a servant to all people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidenori-kumai/if-any-of-you-want-to-be-the-greatest-then-you-must-become-the-least/)

[Hidenori Kumai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidenori-kumai/)

> [The real servant of the people must live among them, think with them, feel for them, and die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/the-real-servant-of-the-people-must-live-among-them-think-with-them/)

[Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/)

> [I believe that government is the servant of the people and not their master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/i-believe-that-government-is-the-servant-of-the-people-and-not-their/)

[David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/)

> [The hundred parts of the body are all complete in their places. Which should one prefer? Do you like them all equally? Are they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/the-hundred-parts-of-the-body-are-all-complete-in-their-places-which/)

[Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/)

> [It is better to be the servant of God than the ruler of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/it-is-better-to-be-the-servant-of-god-than-the-ruler-of-men/)

[Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/)

> [Illiteracy does not impede the practice of democracy, as witnessed by the success of democracy in India despite the high illiteracy rate. One doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaa-al-aswany/illiteracy-does-not-impede-the-practice-of-democracy-as-witnessed-by/)

[Alaa Al Aswany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaa-al-aswany/)

> [“For rulers, religion is a great tool to rule the common people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/for-rulers-religion-is-a-great-tool-to-rule-the-common-people/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [ \[T\]he tax code has been piling up, year after year, a symbol of everything gone wrong in America, of arrogant rulers and lost freedom,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/t-he-tax-code-has-been-piling-up-year-after-year-a-symbol-of/)

[Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/)

> [In lightness the root is lost. In haste the ruler is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-lightness-the-root-is-lost-in-haste-the-ruler-is-lost/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

## More by Ashwin Sanghi

> [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [“Treat me, O Alexander, as befits a king!’ replied Paurus as he stood in chains before his subjugator, defeated but not dispirited, wounded but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/treat-me-o-alexander-as-befits-a-king-replied-paurus-as-he-stood-in/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [“Originally built as the state ballroom for the British Viceroy, Ashoka Hall also had a wooden dance floor. It was ironic that prime ministers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/originally-built-as-the-state-ballroom-for-the-british-viceroy-ashoka/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [“the wily Machiavelli had always believed that any clod could have the facts—having an opinion was an art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/the-wily-machiavelli-had-always-believed-that-any-clod-could-have-the/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [“But acharya, even if we find someone else to finance it, is it wise to use religious differences?’ ‘My dharma tells me that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/but-acharya-even-if-we-find-someone-else-to-finance-it-is-it-wise-to/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [“To many he was known as Kautilya—the crooked one; to his childhood acquaintances he was Vishnugupta; but to most he was Chanakya—illustrious son of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/to-many-he-was-known-as-kautilya-the-crooked-one-to-his-childhood/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [Writing is a intensely personal activity. I can pen down my best thoughts when I'm alone. But when one is elevated into the stature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/writing-is-a-intensely-personal-activity-i-can-pen-down-my-best/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [“Dhanananda’s out of the way.’ ‘But how will that happen? He’s firmly entrenched on the throne. He has Bharat’s largest armed force at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/dhanananda-s-out-of-the-way-but-how-will-that-happen-he-s-firmly/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [“Never interfere with an enemy while he’s in the process of destroying himself.’ Napoleon Bonaparte”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/never-interfere-with-an-enemy-while-he-s-in-the-process-of-destroying/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [I was learning book-keeping at the age of 12, but it never stopped me from pursuing literature. Over the years, I grew to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/i-was-learning-book-keeping-at-the-age-of-12-but-it-never-stopped-me/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [A western audience might not appreciate 'Chanakya's Chant' because of its dependence on history and ancient statecraft. My book is a modern-day thriller that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/a-western-audience-might-not-appreciate-chanakya-s-chant-because-of/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [“First, they ignore you, second, they laugh at you, third, they fight you, and fourth—you win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/first-they-ignore-you-second-they-laugh-at-you-third-they-fight-you/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [Till the time I found a creative outlet, I was trying to be extra creative at business, which would always put me in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/till-the-time-i-found-a-creative-outlet-i-was-trying-to-be-extra/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [It may sound very strange, but I love the freedom that writing a novel gives me. It is an unhindered experience. If I come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-may-sound-very-strange-but-i-love-the-freedom-that-writing-a-novel/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [The decision to use a pen name was nothing more than a desire to compartmentalise my life. However, I had not thought about an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/the-decision-to-use-a-pen-name-was-nothing-more-than-a-desire-to/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

[Explore all 134 Ashwin Sanghi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

## More Masters quotes

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [We are reaching deep within ourselves to adjust the master knob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-are-reaching-deep-within-ourselves-to-adjust-the-master-knob/)

[Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/)

> [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

> [There are so many great artists, I think, who kind of suffer from being icons, legends, acknowledged masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/there-are-so-many-great-artists-i-think-who-kind-of-suffer-from-being/)

[Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/)

> [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There is no one who can change My course or affect My conduct to the slightest extent. I am the Master over all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/there-is-no-one-who-can-change-my-course-or-affect-my-conduct-to-the/)

[Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/)

> [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/i-was-a-full-time-student-either-at-stony-brook-or-nyu-getting-my/)

[Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/)

> [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/search-for-the-seed-of-good-in-every-adversity-master-that-principle/)

[Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/)

> [In art, all who have done something other than their predecessors have merited the epithet of revolutionary; and it is they alone who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/in-art-all-who-have-done-something-other-than-their-predecessors-have/)

[Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/)

> [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/)

[Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/)

> [The first responsibility of the Muslim is as teacher. That is his job, to teach. His first school, his first classroom is within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rap-brown/the-first-responsibility-of-the-muslim-is-as-teacher-that-is-his-job/)

[H. Rap Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rap-brown/)

> [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/)

[Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/)

[Browse all 4,282 Masters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In order to become the master, a ruler must profess to be a servant of the people.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ashwin Sanghi"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/in-order-to-become-the-master-a-ruler-must-profess-to-be-a-servant-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Masters"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/in-order-to-become-the-master-a-ruler-must-profess-to-be-a-servant-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/ashwin-sanghi-3271_masters_in-order-to-become-the-master-a-ruler-mu_834049.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/ashwin-sanghi-3271_masters_in-order-to-become-the-master-a-ruler-mu_834049.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/ashwin-sanghi-3271_masters_in-order-to-become-the-master-a-ruler-mu_834049.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In order to become the master, a ruler must profess to be a servant of the people.” — Ashwin Sanghi",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ashwin Sanghi",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In order to become the master,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/in-order-to-become-the-master-a-ruler-must-profess-to-be-a-servant-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/in-order-to-become-the-master-a-ruler-must-profess-to-be-a-servant-of/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
