--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leadership is a word and a concept that…" description: "\"Leadership is a word and a concept that has been more argued than almost any other I know. I am not one of the desk-pounding types that likes to stick ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/dwight-david-eisenhower-42502_human-nature_leadership-is-a-word-and-a-concept-that_278324.jpg" --- # Leadership is a word and a concept that has been more… ![“Leadership is a word and a concept that has been more argued than almost any other I know. I am not one of the desk-pounding types that likes to stick out his jaw and look like he is bossing the show. I would far rather get behind and, recognizing the frailties and the requirements of human…” quote by Dwight David Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/dwight-david-eisenhower-42502_human-nature_leadership-is-a-word-and-a-concept-that_278324.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/dwight-david-eisenhower-42502_human-nature_leadership-is-a-word-and-a-concept-that_278324.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/dwight-david-eisenhower-42502_human-nature_leadership-is-a-word-and-a-concept-that_278324.jpg) > “Leadership is a word and a concept that has been more argued than almost any other I know. I am not one of the desk-pounding types that likes to stick out his jaw and look like he is bossing the show. I would far rather get behind and, recognizing the frailties and the requirements of human nature, would rather try to persuade a man to go along, because once I have persuaded him, he will stick. If I scare him, he will stay just as long as he is scared, and then he is gone.” [Dwight David Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-david-eisenhower/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leadership relies on persuasion and empathy rather than intimidation; lasting influence comes from voluntary commitment, not fear. **In simple terms:** Lead by persuasion, not fear. Key Takeaway Persuade, then people will stay. Themes leadership influence empathy persuasion Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - organizational change - conflict resolution - mentoring Key Concepts trust voluntary commitment human nature Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster trust in a team? - What strategies replace fear with inspiration? A Different Perspective Fear may produce short‑term compliance but erodes long‑term loyalty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ## Related quotes > [I would rather try to persuade a man to go along, because once I have persuaded him, he will stick. If I scare him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/i-would-rather-try-to-persuade-a-man-to-go-along-because-once-i-have/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [You persuade a man only insofar as you can talk his language by speech, gesture, tonality, order, image, attitude, idea, identifying your ways with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-burke/you-persuade-a-man-only-insofar-as-you-can-talk-his-language-by/) [Kenneth Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-burke/) > [You can persuade a man to believe almost anything provided he is clever enough, but it is much more difficult to persuade someone less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/you-can-persuade-a-man-to-believe-almost-anything-provided-he-is/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [It is impossible to persuade a man who does not disagree, but smiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/it-is-impossible-to-persuade-a-man-who-does-not-disagree-but-smiles/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [It's Not My Job To Try To Persuade People To Love Me, It's Only To Try To Make Them Love The Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/it-s-not-my-job-to-try-to-persuade-people-to-love-me-it-s-only-to-try/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [Everyone is disturbed here so don t try to persuade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin/everyone-is-disturbed-here-so-don-t-try-to-persuade/) [Kevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin/) > [“And if I am asked today to advise a young writer who has not yet made up his mind what way to go, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/and-if-i-am-asked-today-to-advise-a-young-writer-who-has-not-yet-made/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [“Try to persuade a person by appealing to their consciousness, by saying outright what you want, by showing all your cards, and what hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/try-to-persuade-a-person-by-appealing-to-their-consciousness-by/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“Make love," he suggested. "Make love with me." "I'm not in the right mood for love." "Let me try to persuade you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/make-love-he-suggested-make-love-with-me-i-m-not-in-the-right-mood/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [I try to persuade people to act in ways that are not only in their own interest, but in the interest of society at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/i-try-to-persuade-people-to-act-in-ways-that-are-not-only-in-their/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [When you start writing things to try to persuade someone who's not already part of your guild or your profession that something is interesting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/when-you-start-writing-things-to-try-to-persuade-someone-who-s-not/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [“Leadership is a word people use to reconcile any kind of charisma that was impossible to otherwise explain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/leadership-is-a-word-people-use-to-reconcile-any-kind-of-charisma/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Leadership is another word for preparation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-prashad/leadership-is-another-word-for-preparation/) [Vijay Prashad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-prashad/) > [Integrity is the most valuable and respected quality of leadership. Always keep your word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/integrity-is-the-most-valuable-and-respected-quality-of-leadership/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“thither I went, and sought to persuade every man among you that he must look to himself, and seek virtue and wisdom before he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/thither-i-went-and-sought-to-persuade-every-man-among-you-that-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by Dwight David Eisenhower > [The older I get, the more wisdom I find in the ancient rule of taking first things first - a process which often reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-david-eisenhower/the-older-i-get-the-more-wisdom-i-find-in-the-ancient-rule-of-taking/) [Dwight David Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-david-eisenhower/) > [Fucking a dude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-david-eisenhower/fucking-a-dude/) [Dwight David Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-david-eisenhower/) > [We are proud because from the beginning of this nation man can walk upright no matter who he is or who she is. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-david-eisenhower/we-are-proud-because-from-the-beginning-of-this-nation-man-can-walk/) [Dwight David Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-david-eisenhower/) > [An atheist is a guy who watches a N�tre Dame - SMU football game and doesn't care who wins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-david-eisenhower/an-atheist-is-a-guy-who-watches-a-n-tre-dame-smu-football-game-and/) [Dwight David Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-david-eisenhower/) > [Without God there could be no American form of government nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-david-eisenhower/without-god-there-could-be-no-american-form-of-government-nor-an/) [Dwight David Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-david-eisenhower/) > [When people speak to you about a preventive war, you tell them to go and fight it. 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The total influence -- economic, political,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-david-eisenhower/this-conjunction-of-an-immense-military-establishment-and-a-large/) [Dwight David Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-david-eisenhower/) > [Every gun that's made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-david-eisenhower/every-gun-that-s-made-every-warship-launched-every-rocket-fired/) [Dwight David Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-david-eisenhower/) > [I tell this story to illustrate the truth of the statement I heard long ago in the Army: Plans are worthless, but planning is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-david-eisenhower/i-tell-this-story-to-illustrate-the-truth-of-the-statement-i-heard/) [Dwight David Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-david-eisenhower/) [Explore all 10 Dwight David Eisenhower quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-david-eisenhower/) ## More Human nature quotes > [There is no human nature, since there is no god to conceive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/there-is-no-human-nature-since-there-is-no-god-to-conceive-it/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [“The aristocratic interiority is centered on the higher mind, the mens, the ajna chakra, the seat of intellect and intuition that commands the lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-evola/the-aristocratic-interiority-is-centered-on-the-higher-mind-the-mens/) [Julius Evola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-evola/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office-seeking. 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Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Selfishness is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/selfishness-is-one-of-the-principal-fruits-of-the-corruption-of-human/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [Though there may be people in your life that support you and encourage you we have to realize that people are only human, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/though-there-may-be-people-in-your-life-that-support-you-and/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“I wasn't sure which I appreciated less—the insincere concern or the genuine indifference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-graham/i-wasn-t-sure-which-i-appreciated-less-the-insincere-concern-or-the/) Arthur Graham > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [“As if we didn't have enough weapons already. But that's human nature, we've always got to go one better, to increase the terror another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-f-hamilton/as-if-we-didn-t-have-enough-weapons-already-but-that-s-human-nature/) [Peter F. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-f-hamilton/) > [ \[Putin\] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-understand-when-we-punch-them-in/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [“The mass of men have been forced to be gay about the little things, but sad about the big ones. Nevertheless (I offer my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-mass-of-men-have-been-forced-to-be-gay-about-the-little-things/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 3,743 Human nature quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leadership is a word and a concept that has been more argued than almost any other I know. I am not one of the desk-pounding types that likes to stick out his jaw and look like he is bossing the show. I would far rather get behind and, recognizing the frailties and the requirements of human nature, would rather try to persuade a man to go along, because once I have persuaded him, he will stick. 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