--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leadership is, among other things, the…" description: "\"Leadership is, among other things, the ability to inflict pain and get away with it - short-term pain for long-term gain.\" — George Will" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14c/george-will-1177_ability_leadership-is-among-other-things-the-abi_2696577.png" --- # Leadership is, among other things, the ability to inflict… ![“Leadership is, among other things, the ability to inflict pain and get away with it - short-term pain for long-term gain.” quote by George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14c/george-will-1177_ability_leadership-is-among-other-things-the-abi_2696577.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14c/george-will-1177_ability_leadership-is-among-other-things-the-abi_2696577.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14c/george-will-1177_ability_leadership-is-among-other-things-the-abi_2696577.png) > “Leadership is, among other things, the ability to inflict pain and get away with it - short-term pain for long-term gain.” [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership sometimes requires inflicting short‑term pain for long‑term benefits, raising ethical concerns. **In simple terms:** Leaders may cause pain now for future gain. Key Takeaway Weigh ethical costs before imposing necessary pain. Themes leadership ethics pain short‑term long‑term Mood critical thoughtful Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy implementation - military strategy - organizational change Key Concepts utilitarianism authority decision making Questions to Reflect On - When is it justified to cause short‑term pain? - How can leaders mitigate negative fallout? A Different Perspective Pain can erode trust and morale if misused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Gains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gains/) [Get away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-away/) [Inflict Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inflict-pain-525663/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-things-2700313/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-long-420604/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Term Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-pain-2194500/) ## Related quotes > [“Short term gain will result in long term pain”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/short-term-gain-will-result-in-long-term-pain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Chronic or long-term pain affects sleep for weeks to months, even years, causing you to awaken frequently at night and experience daytime sleepiness. 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The business of america is justice and securing the blessings of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-business-of-america-is-not-business-neither-is-it-war-the/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Freedom is not only the absence of external restraints. It is also the absence of irresistible internal compulsions, unmanageable passion, and uncensorable highlights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/freedom-is-not-only-the-absence-of-external-restraints-it-is-also-the/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) [Explore all 279 George Will quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. 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