--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When intellectual leaders fail to foster…" description: "\"When intellectual leaders fail to foster the best in the mixed, unformed, vacillating character of people at large, the thugs are sure to bring out the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/ayn-rand-59_average_when-intellectual-leaders-fail-to-foster_2510946.jpg" --- # When intellectual leaders fail to foster the best in the… ![“When intellectual leaders fail to foster the best in the mixed, unformed, vacillating character of people at large, the thugs are sure to bring out the worst. When the ablest men turn into cowards, the average men turn into brutes.” quote by Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/ayn-rand-59_average_when-intellectual-leaders-fail-to-foster_2510946.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/ayn-rand-59_average_when-intellectual-leaders-fail-to-foster_2510946.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/ayn-rand-59_average_when-intellectual-leaders-fail-to-foster_2510946.jpg) > “When intellectual leaders fail to foster the best in the mixed, unformed, vacillating character of people at large, the thugs are sure to bring out the worst. When the ablest men turn into cowards, the average men turn into brutes.” [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When leaders lack moral courage, society descends into chaos as the weak dominate and the strong become timid. **In simple terms:** Leaders' failure leads to societal decline. Key Takeaway Promote courageous, principled leadership. Themes leadership morality societal decay courage Mood concerned critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political leadership - community organization - education reform - media influence Key Concepts individualism ethical responsibility social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals uphold integrity when leadership fails? - What structures protect societies from moral decay? A Different Perspective Even strong leaders can be undermined by systemic corruption. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Average man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average-man/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The truly and deliberately evil men are a very small minority; it is the appeaser who unleashes them on mankind; it is the appeaser's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-truly-and-deliberately-evil-men-are-a-very-small-minority-it-is/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Even the biggest heroes turn into cowards when they get tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirko-cro-cop/even-the-biggest-heroes-turn-into-cowards-when-they-get-tired/) [Mirko Cro Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirko-cro-cop/) > [“When great happiness unexpectedly swoops down on people, they suddenly turn into cowards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novala-takemoto/when-great-happiness-unexpectedly-swoops-down-on-people-they-suddenly/) [Novala Takemoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novala-takemoto/) > [Civilization does not have to perish. The brutes are winning only by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/civilization-does-not-have-to-perish-the-brutes-are-winning-only-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [For they have nothing to fight me with, save the brute force of their numbers. I have my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/for-they-have-nothing-to-fight-me-with-save-the-brute-force-of-their/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Racism is a doctrine of, by and for brutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/racism-is-a-doctrine-of-by-and-for-brutes/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Collectivism holds that the individual has no rights, that his life and work belong to the group (to "society," to the tribe, the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/collectivism-holds-that-the-individual-has-no-rights-that-his-life/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [\*..i'M siCc Of BoYs AnD dA GaMeZ dEy PLaY..sOmEtiMeZ i JuSs wAnT dEm To Go AwAy..\*](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew/i-m-sicc-of-boys-and-da-gamez-dey-play-sometimez-i-juss-want-dem-to/) [Matthew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew/) > [So, Ladies. I want a logical explanation on why ya'll love these dreaded, tatted ,thugs , who have no future. Explain this to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-heggs/so-ladies-i-want-a-logical-explanation-on-why-ya-ll-love-these/) [Christian Heggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-heggs/) > [“This isn't a job for trained soldiers and spies. It's a job for thugs and thieves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/this-isn-t-a-job-for-trained-soldiers-and-spies-it-s-a-job-for-thugs/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [Missing out an apostrophe or two does not make you an idiot. But equating party allegiance with nationhood certainly makes you a thug. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/missing-out-an-apostrophe-or-two-does-not-make-you-an-idiot-but/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [“We are warriors of Allah.” “You are thugs with Korans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadeem-aslam/we-are-warriors-of-allah-you-are-thugs-with-korans/) [Nadeem Aslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadeem-aslam/) > [“These thugs call everyone their “Cuz.” If I had a dollar for every time I heard that expression I would have retired three times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-a-digiacomo/these-thugs-call-everyone-their-cuz-if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time/) Marc A. DiGiacomo > [In some townships, political parties are run by thugs financed from Cape Town. If we don't have support of the police, we can not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/in-some-townships-political-parties-are-run-by-thugs-financed-from/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I'm married to the street; I ain't gonna switch over. I ain't gonna go religion on nobody. I believe in God - God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trick-daddy/i-m-married-to-the-street-i-ain-t-gonna-switch-over-i-ain-t-gonna-go/) [Trick Daddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trick-daddy/) ## More by Ayn Rand > [There are no white lies, there is only the blackest of destruction, and a white lie is the blackest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-are-no-white-lies-there-is-only-the-blackest-of-destruction-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [She watched the prairies the rivers, the towns slipping past at an untouchable distance below - and she noted that the sense of detachment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-watched-the-prairies-the-rivers-the-towns-slipping-past-at-an/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“This was reality, she thought, this sense of clear outlines, of purpose, of lightness, of hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-was-reality-she-thought-this-sense-of-clear-outlines-of-purpose/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [A “collective” mind does not exist. It is merely the sum of endless numbers of individual minds. If we have an endless number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-collective-mind-does-not-exist-it-is-merely-the-sum-of-endless/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“She moved her hand and let it rest against his. He did not withdraw his fingers and he did not pretend indifference. She bent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-moved-her-hand-and-let-it-rest-against-his-he-did-not-withdraw/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [This miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-miracle-of-me-is-mine-to-own-and-keep-and-mine-to-guard-and-mine/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“There was still one response, the greatest, that she had missed. She thought: To find a feeling that would hold, as their sum, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-was-still-one-response-the-greatest-that-she-had-missed-she/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Inflation is not caused by the actions of private citizens, but by the government: by an artificial expansion of the money supply required to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/inflation-is-not-caused-by-the-actions-of-private-citizens-but-by-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“We are fornicating in the sight of six billion people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/we-are-fornicating-in-the-sight-of-six-billion-people/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“She was fifteen when it occurred to her for the first time that women did not run railroads and that people might object. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-was-fifteen-when-it-occurred-to-her-for-the-first-time-that-women/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Fransisco, you're some kind of very high nobility, aren't you?" He answered, "Not yet. The reason my family has lasted for such a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/fransisco-you-re-some-kind-of-very-high-nobility-aren-t-you-he/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Have you felt it too? Have you seen how your best friends love everything about you- except the things that count? And your most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/have-you-felt-it-too-have-you-seen-how-your-best-friends-love/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Every coercive monopoly was created by government intervention into the economy: by special privileges, such as franchises or subsidies, which closed the entry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/every-coercive-monopoly-was-created-by-government-intervention-into/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [We are all brothers under the skin - and I, for one, would be willing to skin humanity to prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/we-are-all-brothers-under-the-skin-and-i-for-one-would-be-willing-to/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) [Explore all 1,777 Ayn Rand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More Average quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/) Buck Martinez > [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The average well-being of our societies is not dependent any longer on national income and economic growth. ... But the differences between us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-wilkinson/the-average-well-being-of-our-societies-is-not-dependent-any-longer/) [Richard G. Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-wilkinson/) > [I really focus more to hit for average, just try to put the ball in play as much as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-soto/i-really-focus-more-to-hit-for-average-just-try-to-put-the-ball-in/) [Juan Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-soto/) > [You give me enough shots, I'll average 20. You give me a particular system where I stick close to the basket, I'll average 10 rebounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bosh/you-give-me-enough-shots-i-ll-average-20-you-give-me-a-particular/) [Chris Bosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bosh/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [The average American expends more time becoming informed about choosing a car than choosing a candidate. But, then, the consequences of the former choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-average-american-expends-more-time-becoming-informed-about/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [My phone rings, they call me up and say, 'Chael, your testosterone level is too high.' I say, 'Well, how high was it?' They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/my-phone-rings-they-call-me-up-and-say-chael-your-testosterone-level/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [In one century, we've added 28 years to our average life span - a change so rapid that our brains couldn't possibly have evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/in-one-century-we-ve-added-28-years-to-our-average-life-span-a-change/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I feel like what motivates me is what would motivate the regular average person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-nasty/i-feel-like-what-motivates-me-is-what-would-motivate-the-regular/) [Rico Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-nasty/) > [We're trying to do something so that when the average person uses Pinterest, it has to make the service better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-silbermann/we-re-trying-to-do-something-so-that-when-the-average-person-uses/) [Ben Silbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-silbermann/) > [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) Browse all 2,816 Average quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When intellectual leaders fail to foster the best in the mixed, unformed, vacillating character of people at large, the thugs are sure to bring out the worst. When the ablest men turn into cowards, the average men turn into brutes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ayn Rand" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/when-intellectual-leaders-fail-to-foster-the-best-in-the-mixed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Average" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/when-intellectual-leaders-fail-to-foster-the-best-in-the-mixed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/ayn-rand-59_average_when-intellectual-leaders-fail-to-foster_2510946.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/ayn-rand-59_average_when-intellectual-leaders-fail-to-foster_2510946.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/ayn-rand-59_average_when-intellectual-leaders-fail-to-foster_2510946.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When intellectual leaders fail to foster the best in the mixed, unformed, vacillating character of people at…” — Ayn Rand", "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": "Ayn Rand", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When intellectual leaders fail to foster...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/when-intellectual-leaders-fail-to-foster-the-best-in-the-mixed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/when-intellectual-leaders-fail-to-foster-the-best-in-the-mixed/#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 } } ] } ```