--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you lead the people with correctness…" description: "\"If you lead the people with correctness, who will dare not be correct?\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/confucius-164_correctness_if-you-lead-the-people-with-correctness_2297137.jpg" --- # If you lead the people with correctness, who will dare not… ![“If you lead the people with correctness, who will dare not be correct?” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/confucius-164_correctness_if-you-lead-the-people-with-correctness_2297137.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/confucius-164_correctness_if-you-lead-the-people-with-correctness_2297137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/confucius-164_correctness_if-you-lead-the-people-with-correctness_2297137.jpg) > “If you lead the people with correctness, who will dare not be correct?” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership grounded in moral correctness invites others to question their own assumptions and avoid complacency. **In simple terms:** Correct leadership challenges others to think. Key Takeaway Encourage critical thinking in leadership. Themes leadership morality questioning authority selfreflection Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team meetings - policy making - education - public speaking Key Concepts Confucianism ethical leadership social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders foster both correctness and openness? - What risks arise when correctness dominates? A Different Perspective May suppress dissent if not balanced with openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Lead the people with administrative injunctions and put them in their place with penal law, and they will avoid punishments but will be without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/lead-the-people-with-administrative-injunctions-and-put-them-in-their/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To govern is to correct. If you set an example by being correct, who would dare remain incorrect?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-govern-is-to-correct-if-you-set-an-example-by-being-correct-who/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Those who lead people do not have the right to make mistakes! If they do, then they don't have the right to lead!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/those-who-lead-people-do-not-have-the-right-to-make-mistakes-if-they/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [You can't lead people you don't believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/you-can-t-lead-people-you-don-t-believe-in/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) > [I will lead my people out of bondage, Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cicely-tyson/i-will-lead-my-people-out-of-bondage-lord/) [Cicely Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cicely-tyson/) > [I think I'm going to lead my people one day. I'm sure of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-kuti/i-think-i-m-going-to-lead-my-people-one-day-i-m-sure-of-it/) [Fela Kuti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-kuti/) > [To lead the people, walk behind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-lead-the-people-walk-behind-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some people figure that if they're part of a gang then they have less of a chance of being killed, because they are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-kemp/some-people-figure-that-if-they-re-part-of-a-gang-then-they-have-less/) [Ross Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-kemp/) > [You manage things and lead people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/you-manage-things-and-lead-people/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [“You don't lead people by what you say to them; you lead them by what they see you do. True leaders are self-leaders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-lead-people-by-what-you-say-to-them-you-lead-them-by-what/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Truly effective and inspiring leaders aren’t actually driven to lead people; they are driven to serve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/truly-effective-and-inspiring-leaders-aren-t-actually-driven-to-lead/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [All good hotels tend to lead people to do things they wouldn't necessarily do at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-balazs/all-good-hotels-tend-to-lead-people-to-do-things-they-wouldn-t/) [Andre Balazs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-balazs/) > [The Holy Spirit will lead you to be with people as Jesus would be with them if He were in your place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-holy-spirit-will-lead-you-to-be-with-people-as-jesus-would-be/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [To lead people, walk beside them ... As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-lead-people-walk-beside-them-as-for-the-best-leaders-the-people-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-the-sage-wants-to-stand-above-people-he-must-speak-to-them-from/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Correctness quotes > [Whether it's people walking off 'The View' when Bill O'Reilly makes a statement about radical Islam or Juan Williams being fired for expressing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantor/whether-it-s-people-walking-off-the-view-when-bill-o-reilly-makes-a/) [Eric Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantor/) > [Martyrdom has always been a proof of the intensity, never of the correctness of a belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schnitzler/martyrdom-has-always-been-a-proof-of-the-intensity-never-of-the/) [Arthur Schnitzler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schnitzler/) > [Political correctness is a major defect of the western ethos. Some Western countries have even passed blasphemy laws that would put you in legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/political-correctness-is-a-major-defect-of-the-western-ethos-some/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) > [Another plague upon the land, as devastating as the locusts God loosed on the Egyptians, is 'Political Correctness.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/another-plague-upon-the-land-as-devastating-as-the-locusts-god-loosed/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) > [Political correctness is a thing of leftist radicals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jair-bolsonaro/political-correctness-is-a-thing-of-leftist-radicals/) [Jair Bolsonaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jair-bolsonaro/) > [The job of formal methods is to elucidate the assumptions upon which formal correctness depends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/the-job-of-formal-methods-is-to-elucidate-the-assumptions-upon-which/) [Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/) > [All this discussion though politically correct, is dead beyond destruction though it leaves me quite erect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/live-band/all-this-discussion-though-politically-correct-is-dead-beyond/) [Live (Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/live-band/) > [We all have Tumblr, and we all have Instagram and everything. People care so much about it because, now, any random can be famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/we-all-have-tumblr-and-we-all-have-instagram-and-everything-people/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [“No one in the world can shake you up if you are correct. First comes ‘correctness’ and then comes exactness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/no-one-in-the-world-can-shake-you-up-if-you-are-correct-first-comes/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [You get so tired of political correctness. I'm noted for speaking out all my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-arpaio/you-get-so-tired-of-political-correctness-i-m-noted-for-speaking-out/) [Joe Arpaio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-arpaio/) > [Political correctness is neither political nor is it correct. It amounts to social censorship, and the sooner we spit it out, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/political-correctness-is-neither-political-nor-is-it-correct-it/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [The truth is that this culture of political correctness has tied the hands of law enforcement around the USA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-truth-is-that-this-culture-of-political-correctness-has-tied-the/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [“You see political correctness is just like any other religion. It’s based on faith, impervious to logic, always looking for converts and its true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-white-jr/you-see-political-correctness-is-just-like-any-other-religion-it-s/) [E.R. White Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-white-jr/) > [In this era of political correctness, some people seem unaware that being squeamish about words can mean being blind to realities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/in-this-era-of-political-correctness-some-people-seem-unaware-that/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [To speak plainly and truthfully about the state of our world - to say, for instance, that the Bible and the Koran both contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/to-speak-plainly-and-truthfully-about-the-state-of-our-world-to-say/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) Browse all 313 Correctness quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you lead the people with correctness, who will dare not be correct?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Confucius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-you-lead-the-people-with-correctness-who-will-dare-not-be-correct/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Correctness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-you-lead-the-people-with-correctness-who-will-dare-not-be-correct/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/confucius-164_correctness_if-you-lead-the-people-with-correctness_2297137.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/confucius-164_correctness_if-you-lead-the-people-with-correctness_2297137.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/confucius-164_correctness_if-you-lead-the-people-with-correctness_2297137.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you lead the people with correctness, who will dare not be correct?” — Confucius", "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": "Confucius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you lead the people with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-you-lead-the-people-with-correctness-who-will-dare-not-be-correct/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-you-lead-the-people-with-correctness-who-will-dare-not-be-correct/#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 } } ] } ```