--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leading by example through \"Servant…" description: "\"“Leading by example through \"Servant Leadership\" used to be a badge of honor that distinguished you from the Corps of the Blue Falcon. Present day I se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/donavan-nelson-butler-master-s_duty-and-attitude_leading-by-example-through-servant-leade_2746643.jpg" --- # Leading by example through "Servant Leadership" used to be… ![“Leading by example through "Servant Leadership" used to be a badge of honor that distinguished you from the Corps of the Blue Falcon. Present day I see the ranks of the Blue Falcon surging in a flagless flotilla of blurred morals, a low tide of integrity, and selfish ethics adrift with no…” quote by Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/donavan-nelson-butler-master-s_duty-and-attitude_leading-by-example-through-servant-leade_2746643.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/donavan-nelson-butler-master-s_duty-and-attitude_leading-by-example-through-servant-leade_2746643.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/donavan-nelson-butler-master-s_duty-and-attitude_leading-by-example-through-servant-leade_2746643.jpg) > ““Leading by example through "Servant Leadership" used to be a badge of honor that distinguished you from the Corps of the Blue Falcon. Present day I see the ranks of the Blue Falcon surging in a flagless flotilla of blurred morals, a low tide of integrity, and selfish ethics adrift with no anchorage. The pulse of the led is directly influenced by the organizational heart rate of the leader.”” [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders set the moral tone of an organization; their behavior directly shapes collective integrity and ethics. **In simple terms:** Leaders influence group values. Key Takeaway Lead with integrity to shape culture. Themes leadership ethics integrity culture example Mood reflective serious Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - military units - corporate teams - nonprofit groups - community projects Key Concepts Servant leadership organizational behavior moral psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you model integrity daily? - What systems reinforce ethical behavior? A Different Perspective If leaders are compromised, the whole organization may drift despite good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty-and-attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-and-attitude/) [Heart rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-rate/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-quotes/) [Leadership Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-used-3066757/) [Leading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading/) [Leading By Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading-by-example/) [Military-quote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-quote/) [Organizational Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organizational-heart-3066758/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Present day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-day/) [Servant leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant-leadership/) ## Related quotes > [“Its been my experience during my military career that a leader displaying a THIRST for power will ultimately have a APPETITE for destruction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/its-been-my-experience-during-my-military-career-that-a-leader/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“A leader is skating up hill on a slippery slope when Servant Leadership is not part of a leaders philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/a-leader-is-skating-up-hill-on-a-slippery-slope-when-servant/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [I think a lot of people, when the word leadership is used, they think of it as quite forceful and quite a rigid thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/i-think-a-lot-of-people-when-the-word-leadership-is-used-they-think/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Leadership used to be about creating certainty. Now it is about leading uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leadership-used-to-be-about-creating-certainty-now-it-is-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The term power comes from the Latin posse- to do, to be able, to change, to influence or effect. To have power is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gini/the-term-power-comes-from-the-latin-posse-to-do-to-be-able-to-change/) [Al Gini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gini/) > [Leadership used to be about ideas, setting an example and doing the right thing. Today, if you make enough money for the firm (and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-smith/leadership-used-to-be-about-ideas-setting-an-example-and-doing-the/) [Greg Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-smith/) > [Strategy was first used in Athens (508 BC) to describe the art of leadership used by the ten generals on the war council. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/strategy-was-first-used-in-athens-508-bc-to-describe-the-art-of/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [“There are circumstances which can only be created and remedied in a crucible of fury, fire, and destruction like the serotinous cones of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/there-are-circumstances-which-can-only-be-created-and-remedied-in-a/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“The death of unit morale is always precipitated by the neglect of a Soldiers and families health and welfare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/the-death-of-unit-morale-is-always-precipitated-by-the-neglect-of-a/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“The day my NCO support channel abandoned me like a unwanted child at a Fire Station to a toxic commander was the same day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/the-day-my-nco-support-channel-abandoned-me-like-a-unwanted-child-at/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“When you realize you've evolved from the mentored to the Mentor it gives much more to the meaning and lessons learned in life as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/when-you-realize-you-ve-evolved-from-the-mentored-to-the-mentor-it/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“Life Algebra 101 - I truly value my own ignorance of what is to come for me, It is those unknown variables the shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/life-algebra-101-i-truly-value-my-own-ignorance-of-what-is-to-come/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“What do I and a diamond have in common? We are tough, brilliant, and carbon based entities which evolved into something better under immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/what-do-i-and-a-diamond-have-in-common-we-are-tough-brilliant-and/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“The greatest risk most of us will take in our lifetime is that of repression or denial of basic rights of another person. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/the-greatest-risk-most-of-us-will-take-in-our-lifetime-is-that-of/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“Let's make a deal, if you don't blame me for your failures I won't take credit for your successes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/let-s-make-a-deal-if-you-don-t-blame-me-for-your-failures-i-won-t/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) ## More by Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army > [“Let's make a deal, if you don't blame me for your failures I won't take credit for your successes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/let-s-make-a-deal-if-you-don-t-blame-me-for-your-failures-i-won-t/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“In leadership that 20/20 vision sometimes becomes 20/40 or 30/50 depending on how close you are to the situation. To my AG Warrior I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/in-leadership-that-20-20-vision-sometimes-becomes-20-40-or-30-50/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“The greatest risk most of us will take in our lifetime is that of repression or denial of basic rights of another person. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/the-greatest-risk-most-of-us-will-take-in-our-lifetime-is-that-of/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“A leader who allows their subordinates to suffer as proof of who is the boss likely quenches their thirst with salt water from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/a-leader-who-allows-their-subordinates-to-suffer-as-proof-of-who-is/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“What do I and a diamond have in common? We are tough, brilliant, and carbon based entities which evolved into something better under immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/what-do-i-and-a-diamond-have-in-common-we-are-tough-brilliant-and/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“It’s always amazing, when I think about this exact time every year. My goals seemed so lofty and far away. Today, I see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/it-s-always-amazing-when-i-think-about-this-exact-time-every-year-my/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“Life Algebra 101 - I truly value my own ignorance of what is to come for me, It is those unknown variables the shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/life-algebra-101-i-truly-value-my-own-ignorance-of-what-is-to-come/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“When you realize you've evolved from the mentored to the Mentor it gives much more to the meaning and lessons learned in life as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/when-you-realize-you-ve-evolved-from-the-mentored-to-the-mentor-it/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“Where your soul meets your purpose is the azimuth known as your passion and from there you can plot points of inspiration and achievable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/where-your-soul-meets-your-purpose-is-the-azimuth-known-as-your/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“During my road trip of life I have encountered many potholes, areas under construction, delays caused by others on the same road, and 18…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/during-my-road-trip-of-life-i-have-encountered-many-potholes-areas/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“The day my NCO support channel abandoned me like a unwanted child at a Fire Station to a toxic commander was the same day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/the-day-my-nco-support-channel-abandoned-me-like-a-unwanted-child-at/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“The death of unit morale is always precipitated by the neglect of a Soldiers and families health and welfare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/the-death-of-unit-morale-is-always-precipitated-by-the-neglect-of-a/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“A leader is skating up hill on a slippery slope when Servant Leadership is not part of a leaders philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/a-leader-is-skating-up-hill-on-a-slippery-slope-when-servant/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“There are circumstances which can only be created and remedied in a crucible of fury, fire, and destruction like the serotinous cones of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/there-are-circumstances-which-can-only-be-created-and-remedied-in-a/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“If you haven't learned to love yourself you are in reality living a lie proclaiming to be in love with someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/if-you-haven-t-learned-to-love-yourself-you-are-in-reality-living-a/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) [Explore all 64 Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) ## More Duty-and-attitude quotes > [ “By his \[God's\] help I will arise and address myself diligently to my appointed duty. If happiness in this world is not for me,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/by-his-god-s-help-i-will-arise-and-address-myself-diligently-to-my/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [“Mankind has a divine duty, to be stewardship of the natural resources.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/mankind-has-a-divine-duty-to-be-stewardship-of-the-natural-resources/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“You don’t know what your account balance of personal courage is until that situation presents itself where that check needs to be written and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler/you-don-t-know-what-your-account-balance-of-personal-courage-is-until/) [Donavan Nelson Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler/) > [“Duty is doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons, without regard to the cost to one’s self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelo-dirks/duty-is-doing-the-right-thing-at-the-right-time-for-the-right-reasons/) [Angelo Dirks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelo-dirks/) > [“I scoffed at such old fashioned notions as duty, patriotism, the military virtues. And here I was, aged fifty, standing on guard at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-malouf/i-scoffed-at-such-old-fashioned-notions-as-duty-patriotism-the/) [David Malouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-malouf/) > [“Life is a service. What you will do lies in your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/life-is-a-service-what-you-will-do-lies-in-your-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The different kinds of work require different people to perform the task. You must fulfil your specific task.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-different-kinds-of-work-require-different-people-to-perform-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Let no one ever intimidate you, you are standing on no one's ground. But again, some have claimed the earth as their own and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/let-no-one-ever-intimidate-you-you-are-standing-on-no-one-s-ground/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“He was strict and hard and had perfectly clear and definite ideas about duty, where the others were concerned. For oneself one can always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hjalmar-s-derberg/he-was-strict-and-hard-and-had-perfectly-clear-and-definite-ideas/) [Hjalmar Söderberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hjalmar-s-derberg/) [Browse all 10 Duty-and-attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-and-attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Leading by example through \"Servant Leadership\" used to be a badge of honor that distinguished you from the Corps of the Blue Falcon. Present day I see the ranks of the Blue Falcon surging in a flagless flotilla of blurred morals, a low tide of integrity, and selfish ethics adrift with no anchorage. The pulse of the led is directly influenced by the organizational heart rate of the leader.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/leading-by-example-through-servant-leadership-used-to-be-a-badge-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Duty-and-attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/leading-by-example-through-servant-leadership-used-to-be-a-badge-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/donavan-nelson-butler-master-s_duty-and-attitude_leading-by-example-through-servant-leade_2746643.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/donavan-nelson-butler-master-s_duty-and-attitude_leading-by-example-through-servant-leade_2746643.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/donavan-nelson-butler-master-s_duty-and-attitude_leading-by-example-through-servant-leade_2746643.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Leading by example through \"Servant Leadership\" used to be a badge of honor that distinguished you from the…” — Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army", "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": "Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Leading by example through \"Servant Leadership\"...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/leading-by-example-through-servant-leadership-used-to-be-a-badge-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/leading-by-example-through-servant-leadership-used-to-be-a-badge-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 } } ] } ```