--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leadership always contains far more down…" description: "\"Leadership always contains far more down cycles than ups. Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, Wilson, and both Roosevelts experienced setbacks that would h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/james-o-toole-26001_discouraged_leadership-always-contains-far-more-down_2622794.jpg" --- # Leadership always contains far more down cycles than ups… ![“Leadership always contains far more down cycles than ups. Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, Wilson, and both Roosevelts experienced setbacks that would have discouraged (the) less resilient.” quote by James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/james-o-toole-26001_discouraged_leadership-always-contains-far-more-down_2622794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/james-o-toole-26001_discouraged_leadership-always-contains-far-more-down_2622794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/james-o-toole-26001_discouraged_leadership-always-contains-far-more-down_2622794.jpg) > “Leadership always contains far more down cycles than ups. Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, Wilson, and both Roosevelts experienced setbacks that would have discouraged (the) less resilient.” [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership is characterized by frequent setbacks, noting that even great leaders faced failures that tested their resilience. **In simple terms:** Leaders endure many setbacks. Key Takeaway Build resilience through challenges. Themes leadership resilience history failure Mood motivational reflective Type historical leadership When to use this quote - political careers - business ventures - personal growth Key Concepts learning from adversity historical examples Questions to Reflect On - How do setbacks shape your leadership style? - What strategies sustain resilience? A Different Perspective Success stories often hide struggles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged/) [Discouraged Resilient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged-resilient-2125069/) [Experienced Setbacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experienced-setbacks-2125067/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Resilient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resilient/) [Roosevelts Experienced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roosevelts-experienced-2125068/) [Setback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setback/) [Setbacks Discouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setbacks-discouraged-2125066/) ## Related quotes > [“Because even if we were struggling, we had goals. It didn't matter that we weren't there yet. What mattered is that we both experienced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/because-even-if-we-were-struggling-we-had-goals-it-didn-t-matter-that/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [The sort of resilient personality who can bounce back quickly after a major setback, does so largely because they quickly generate positive emotions which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-baylis/the-sort-of-resilient-personality-who-can-bounce-back-quickly-after-a/) [Nick Baylis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-baylis/) > [It's not the winning that teaches you how to be resilient. It's the setback. It's the loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-brooke/it-s-not-the-winning-that-teaches-you-how-to-be-resilient-it-s-the/) [Beth Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-brooke/) > [I don't like to lose-at anything... Yet I've grown most not from victories, but setbacks. If winning is God's reward, then losing is how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-don-t-like-to-lose-at-anything-yet-i-ve-grown-most-not-from/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [My birth at the end of July 1967 makes me a child of the naksa, or setback, as the Arab defeat during the June…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/my-birth-at-the-end-of-july-1967-makes-me-a-child-of-the-naksa-or/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [The difference between stepping stones and stumbling blocks is not in the event itself but how you think about it and what you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/the-difference-between-stepping-stones-and-stumbling-blocks-is-not-in/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [New things have to experience difficulties and setbacks as they grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/new-things-have-to-experience-difficulties-and-setbacks-as-they-grow/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [You may be in a tough time but that setback is simply a setup for a greater comeback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-may-be-in-a-tough-time-but-that-setback-is-simply-a-setup-for-a/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [The greatest thing about tomorrow is, I will be better than I am today...There is no such thing as a setback. The lessons I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/the-greatest-thing-about-tomorrow-is-i-will-be-better-than-i-am-today/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [A two-hour movie tends to be a plot-delivery device; you tend to have to introduce all the characters, say what the goal is, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/a-two-hour-movie-tends-to-be-a-plot-delivery-device-you-tend-to-have/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Optimism boosts your energy and focuses your sights on reaching your goals, rather than wallowing in your setbacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/optimism-boosts-your-energy-and-focuses-your-sights-on-reaching-your/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [In our culture, we grow up thinking that failure is a terrible thing, that it's a setback, or worse, the end. Often it turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-schwarzenegger/in-our-culture-we-grow-up-thinking-that-failure-is-a-terrible-thing/) [Katherine Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-schwarzenegger/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Every crucial experience can be regarded either as a setback, or the start of a wonderful new adventure, it depends on your perspective!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roberts-rinehart/every-crucial-experience-can-be-regarded-either-as-a-setback-or-the/) [Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roberts-rinehart/) ## More by James O'Toole > [By all indications, American business leaders are more adept at creating business strategies than they are skilled at human capital management. American entrepreneurs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/by-all-indications-american-business-leaders-are-more-adept-at/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [In a nutshell, the ability of American companies to compete in world markets depends on creating conditions in which workers can add sufficient value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/in-a-nutshell-the-ability-of-american-companies-to-compete-in-world/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [Sadly, at Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler sales continually trend downward, manufacturing costs rise, and employment declines. As the result of the decrease in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/sadly-at-ford-general-motors-and-chrysler-sales-continually-trend/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [The current CEO of Wal-Mart says he has "no choice" but to sacrifice the welfare of his employees in order to serve his customers'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/the-current-ceo-of-wal-mart-says-he-has-no-choice-but-to-sacrifice/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [The status of women in the workplace has improved dramatically since 1972. More women today have good jobs, the gap between the incomes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/the-status-of-women-in-the-workplace-has-improved-dramatically-since/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [Sadly, too many corporate leaders still believe that the way to boost productivity and profits is to continually reduce salaries, benefits, and training expenditures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/sadly-too-many-corporate-leaders-still-believe-that-the-way-to-boost/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [In the 80s, Ford's successful introduction of the Taurus was, in large part, due to productivity gains resulting from the setting aside of outmoded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/in-the-80s-ford-s-successful-introduction-of-the-taurus-was-in-large/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [American managers often say they would like to pay their employees more, they argue that they can't afford to do so and, at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/american-managers-often-say-they-would-like-to-pay-their-employees/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [When we spoke about workplaces in 1972 we mainly were referring to old-line manufacturing firms, on the one hand, and Main St. shops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/when-we-spoke-about-workplaces-in-1972-we-mainly-were-referring-to/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [The failure of unions to support efforts to increase employee involvement and ownership coincided with their unwillingness to speak out on the broader issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/the-failure-of-unions-to-support-efforts-to-increase-employee/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [Value-based leaders believe in democratic workplaces in which employees participate in decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/value-based-leaders-believe-in-democratic-workplaces-in-which/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [If America is to compete effectively in world markets, its corporate leaders must strategically position their companies in the right businesses, and then manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/if-america-is-to-compete-effectively-in-world-markets-its-corporate/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [The other players of job market are Global Competitors, the glamour corporations in high technology, telecom, entertainment, consumer products and pharmaceuticals who are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/the-other-players-of-job-market-are-global-competitors-the-glamour/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [Managers who assume that higher profits drive better working conditions may have their logic backwards. Contrary to conventional wisdom, our research identified companies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/managers-who-assume-that-higher-profits-drive-better-working/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [Manufacturing productivity is greatly determined by the design of jobs and how workers are rewarded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/manufacturing-productivity-is-greatly-determined-by-the-design-of/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) [Explore all 22 James O'Toole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) ## More Discouraged quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Many persons have been confused and discouraged at the very outset of the study by the great variety and the delicate distinctions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-staunton/many-persons-have-been-confused-and-discouraged-at-the-very-outset-of/) [Howard Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-staunton/) > [I think it's very easy to get discouraged early on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-lowe/i-think-it-s-very-easy-to-get-discouraged-early-on/) [Alice Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-lowe/) > [I am profoundly in the D's - discouraged, depressed, disheartened, disgusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dunbar-nelson/i-am-profoundly-in-the-d-s-discouraged-depressed-disheartened/) [Alice Dunbar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dunbar-nelson/) > [Well, I do expect a lot of myself. I'm a harsh critic because I know what I'm capable of. I have hit those occasional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-stevens/well-i-do-expect-a-lot-of-myself-i-m-a-harsh-critic-because-i-know/) [Dave Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-stevens/) > [I've taken my bumps and bruises, but you've got to be willing to get knocked down and pick yourself up. You can't get discouraged.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-o-neal/i-ve-taken-my-bumps-and-bruises-but-you-ve-got-to-be-willing-to-get/) [Jermaine O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-o-neal/) > [I am a little discouraged and irritated at the welfare recipient families growing in size all the time. Those of us who work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilmar-moore/i-am-a-little-discouraged-and-irritated-at-the-welfare-recipient/) [Hilmar Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilmar-moore/) > [“The way you pass through the land of Learning is that you try a bunch of things. Fear would love for you to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/the-way-you-pass-through-the-land-of-learning-is-that-you-try-a-bunch/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [I do what I believe the Lord did, and that is walk in love with all mankind, which I don't see a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-smith/i-do-what-i-believe-the-lord-did-and-that-is-walk-in-love-with-all/) [Tasha Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-smith/) > [You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/you-need-never-be-discouraged-or-afraid-the-way-through-difficulties/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Lift up your eyes, discouraged one. 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I think often people feel that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-sometimes-am-discouraged-by-what-seems-to-be-a-sort-of-conventional/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 540 Discouraged quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leadership always contains far more down cycles than ups. 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