--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A true leader makes mistakes of ambition…" description: "\"“A true leader makes mistakes of ambition rather than mistakes of apathy.”\" — Bruce Bryans" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/bruce-bryans-32835_failure_a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition_1716603.jpg" --- # A true leader makes mistakes of ambition rather than… ![“A true leader makes mistakes of ambition rather than mistakes of apathy.” quote by Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/bruce-bryans-32835_failure_a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition_1716603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/bruce-bryans-32835_failure_a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition_1716603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/bruce-bryans-32835_failure_a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition_1716603.jpg) > ““A true leader makes mistakes of ambition rather than mistakes of apathy.”” [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders should err by striving for higher goals, not by neglecting responsibility. **In simple terms:** Leaders err by ambition, not apathy. Key Takeaway Prioritize purposeful ambition. Themes leadership ambition responsibility Mood practical inspirational Type leadership philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - team management - personal development - public service Key Concepts ethics organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance ambition with humility? - When does ambition become harmful? A Different Perspective Ambition can blind judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [True leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-leader/) ## Related quotes > [Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/make-mistakes-of-ambition-and-not-mistakes-of-sloth-develop-the/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There are two types of mistakes: mistakes of ambition and mistakes of sloth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/there-are-two-types-of-mistakes-mistakes-of-ambition-and-mistakes-of/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [Every young man is prone to be misled by the suggestions of his own ill-founded ambition which he mistakes for the promptings of asecret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-young-man-is-prone-to-be-misled-by-the-suggestions-of-his-own/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/he-who-has-never-learned-to-obey-cannot-be-a-good-commander/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is-true-leaders-are-made-rather/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [True leaders are the first to admit that they don't know everything and that they need help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-byrd/true-leaders-are-the-first-to-admit-that-they-don-t-know-everything/) Bill Byrd > [A true leader is the one who is humble enough to admit their mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-true-leader-is-the-one-who-is-humble-enough-to-admit-their-mistakes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“a true leader never puts his ego ahead of his assets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/a-true-leader-never-puts-his-ego-ahead-of-his-assets/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [You were born to lead as mothers and fathers because nowhere is righteous leadership more crucial than in the family. You were born to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-were-born-to-lead-as-mothers-and-fathers-because-nowhere-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True greatness,true leadership,is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you. True service is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/true-greatness-true-leadership-is-found-in-giving-yourself-in-service/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [A true leader must have enough backbone to stand alone - even when the crowd wants to take the easy road home. A true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-ludy/a-true-leader-must-have-enough-backbone-to-stand-alone-even-when-the/) [Leslie Ludy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-ludy/) > [Presenting leadership as a list of carefully defined qualities (like strategic, analytical, and performance-ori ented) no longer holds. Instead, true leadership stems from individuality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/presenting-leadership-as-a-list-of-carefully-defined-qualities-like/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [At LSU, I was a true leader. I know I made some mistakes, but I think I was a leader for my teammates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrann-mathieu/at-lsu-i-was-a-true-leader-i-know-i-made-some-mistakes-but-i-think-i/) [Tyrann Mathieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrann-mathieu/) > [A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/a-good-general-not-only-sees-the-way-to-victory-he-also-knows-when/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Bruce Bryans > [“don’t get caught up with the chemistry alone. A charming woman can create chemistry with you in a heartbeat, but that doesn’t guarantee that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/don-t-get-caught-up-with-the-chemistry-alone-a-charming-woman-can/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“The man without a purpose is neither master of his fate nor the captain of his soul. He is merely a minion, a pawn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/the-man-without-a-purpose-is-neither-master-of-his-fate-nor-the/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“Let your power stem from a place of compassion and a desire to help others better themselves. You cannot do this if you’re always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/let-your-power-stem-from-a-place-of-compassion-and-a-desire-to-help/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“in certain situations, she expects her man to protect her even from herself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/in-certain-situations-she-expects-her-man-to-protect-her-even-from/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“We can dwell on the things we despise about each other or we can seek to inspire the good in others. In reality, relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/we-can-dwell-on-the-things-we-despise-about-each-other-or-we-can-seek/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“getting angry or giving in when a woman tests you results in automatic failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/getting-angry-or-giving-in-when-a-woman-tests-you-results-in/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“If she’s testing you she desires you. So instead of waiting for her to start poking just give her a show.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/if-she-s-testing-you-she-desires-you-so-instead-of-waiting-for-her-to/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/you-will-always-find-those-who-think-they-know-what-is-your-duty/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“You must forgive but you must also set strong boundaries and assert yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/you-must-forgive-but-you-must-also-set-strong-boundaries-and-assert/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/the-great-man-is-he-who-in-the-midst-of-the-crowd-keeps-with-perfect/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“they will test the living daylights out of you until you figure out who you are as a man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/they-will-test-the-living-daylights-out-of-you-until-you-figure-out/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“How does a man increase his sense of self-worth and make it difficult for anyone to disrespect him?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/how-does-a-man-increase-his-sense-of-self-worth-and-make-it-difficult/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“Because they expect to be rejected they may actually preemptively do and say things to destroy a relationship. At the end of the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/because-they-expect-to-be-rejected-they-may-actually-preemptively-do/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) > [“She will never tell you this, but what she wants is a man who will reject her rejection firmly, ignore her dismissals, embrace her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/she-will-never-tell-you-this-but-what-she-wants-is-a-man-who-will/) [Bruce Bryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) [Explore all 15 Bruce Bryans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“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/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A true leader makes mistakes of ambition rather than mistakes of apathy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bruce Bryans" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition-rather-than-mistakes-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition-rather-than-mistakes-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/bruce-bryans-32835_failure_a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition_1716603.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/bruce-bryans-32835_failure_a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition_1716603.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9de/bruce-bryans-32835_failure_a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition_1716603.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A true leader makes mistakes of ambition rather than mistakes of apathy.” — Bruce Bryans", "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": "Bruce Bryans", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bryans/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A true leader makes mistakes of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition-rather-than-mistakes-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bryans/a-true-leader-makes-mistakes-of-ambition-rather-than-mistakes-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 } } ] } ```