--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leaders must be tough enough to fight…" description: "\"Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/jesse-jackson-1161_bounce_leaders-must-be-tough-enough-to-fight-te_925651.jpg" --- # Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to… ![“Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.” quote by Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/jesse-jackson-1161_bounce_leaders-must-be-tough-enough-to-fight-te_925651.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/jesse-jackson-1161_bounce_leaders-must-be-tough-enough-to-fight-te_925651.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/jesse-jackson-1161_bounce_leaders-must-be-tough-enough-to-fight-te_925651.jpg) > “Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.” [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leaders balance strength with tenderness, humility, resilience, and humanity, acknowledging mistakes while persisting. **In simple terms:** Leadership blends strength, humility, and resilience. Key Takeaway Embrace balanced leadership. Themes leadership empathy resilience humility Mood inspirational practical Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - team management - conflict resolution - personal development Key Concepts organizational behavior personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you model vulnerability? - What habits build resilience? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on toughness can suppress empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Making mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-mistakes/) [Man enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-enough/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Resilient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resilient/) [Strong enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-enough/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not pessimistic, because poor people tend to bounce back. We've been through worse than this - working people been through worse than this.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-m-not-pessimistic-because-poor-people-tend-to-bounce-back-we-ve/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [But the one thing you can say about me is that I'm very resilient. I always bounce back. I'm like a rubber ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-dennis/but-the-one-thing-you-can-say-about-me-is-that-i-m-very-resilient-i/) [Les Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-dennis/) > [Highly resilient people are flexible, adapt to new circumstances quickly, and thrive in constant change. Most important, they expect to bounce back and feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-siebert/highly-resilient-people-are-flexible-adapt-to-new-circumstances/) Al Siebert > [Fixating on the outcome or needing to know all the details of an upcoming event, such as a trip, causes people to be upset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/fixating-on-the-outcome-or-needing-to-know-all-the-details-of-an/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [One thing about championship teams is that they're resilient. No matter what is thrown at them, no matter how deep the hole, they find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-about-championship-teams-is-that-they-re-resilient-no/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > ["Failure" isn't a word I really use. I am a very resilient person; I bounce back extremely fast, and I believe in myself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-roche/failure-isn-t-a-word-i-really-use-i-am-a-very-resilient-person-i/) [Sebastian Roche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-roche/) > [Later, in a different home, I befriended a eucalypt, using a resilient bough as a trampoline. Learning nothing from having plummeted from the peppercorn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-adams/later-in-a-different-home-i-befriended-a-eucalypt-using-a-resilient/) [Phillip Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-adams/) > [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/) > [I'd rather have lost a tough fight rather than a frustrating fight where the guy ran and got a frustrating decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-henderson/i-d-rather-have-lost-a-tough-fight-rather-than-a-frustrating-fight/) [Dan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-henderson/) > [It would be a tough fight for either Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton against Rigondeaux. He's too good for his own good though and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-campbell/it-would-be-a-tough-fight-for-either-scott-quigg-and-carl-frampton/) [Luke Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-campbell/) > [“It is not tough to fight against giant companies whose people don't talk to each other. Just ace team play.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vineet-raj-kapoor/it-is-not-tough-to-fight-against-giant-companies-whose-people-don-t/) [Vineet Raj Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vineet-raj-kapoor/) > [It's tough for us to fight against those who have the microphone. We try and respond on the pitch, playing as well as possible,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/it-s-tough-for-us-to-fight-against-those-who-have-the-microphone-we/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [I asked for a tough fight, and I'm very excited to fight such a good fighter and a former champion like Frankie Edgar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oliveira/i-asked-for-a-tough-fight-and-i-m-very-excited-to-fight-such-a-good/) [Charles Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oliveira/) > [In my personal life I'm not very tough at all, but in my professional life, having to deal with being a woman in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cher/in-my-personal-life-i-m-not-very-tough-at-all-but-in-my-professional/) [Cher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cher/) > [I really look up to any relationships that last for years, and people tough it out and fight it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-breuer/i-really-look-up-to-any-relationships-that-last-for-years-and-people/) [Jim Breuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-breuer/) ## More by Jesse Jackson > [If my mind can conceive it ,and my heart can believe it,i known I can achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/if-my-mind-can-conceive-it-and-my-heart-can-believe-it-i-known-i-can/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We reveal our joys and successes, we conceal our pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-reveal-our-joys-and-successes-we-conceal-our-pain/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We blacks were the first people embracing Obama, long before the people at expensive fundraisers were supporting him. We gave him his first love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-blacks-were-the-first-people-embracing-obama-long-before-the/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-are-observing-ferguson-and-witnessing-the-anger-demonstrations/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [What's good for the very rich might not be good for anybody but them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/what-s-good-for-the-very-rich-might-not-be-good-for-anybody-but-them/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Those who have the most wealth and the most property, their children have the first, the best, and the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/those-who-have-the-most-wealth-and-the-most-property-their-children/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Most blacks will argue that they excel because of hard work, because of intellect, determination, sweat, blood, tears and risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/most-blacks-will-argue-that-they-excel-because-of-hard-work-because/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Pictures can live in one's memory. That's why they are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/pictures-can-live-in-one-s-memory-that-s-why-they-are-important/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [A check or credit card, a Gucci bag strap, anything of value will do. Give as you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/a-check-or-credit-card-a-gucci-bag-strap-anything-of-value-will-do/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [When they wrote the Constitution, only white male landowners had the right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-white-male-landowners-had-the/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [I'm too mature to be angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/i-m-too-mature-to-be-angry/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-food-we-nursed-their-babies/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [There are clear patterns of discrimination against Blacks and Latinos. The big banks targeted Blacks and Latinos with toxic packages of subprime predatory lending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/there-are-clear-patterns-of-discrimination-against-blacks-and-latinos/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Few would deny that blacks have become very dominant in athletics: football, basketball, track, now dominant in tennis and dominant in golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/few-would-deny-that-blacks-have-become-very-dominant-in-athletics/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) [Explore all 281 Jesse Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) ## More Bounce quotes > [It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters - whether natural or man made. The denizens of suburbia have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-back-from-disasters-whether/) [Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/) > [Offensively, Lowry is a great catch-and-shoot player from deep, and he's very comfortable shooting the trey off the bounce in isolations and pick-and-roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/offensively-lowry-is-a-great-catch-and-shoot-player-from-deep-and-he/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [Everybody in the world now wants to twerk. We don't twerk here in New Orleans, we bounce, we wiggle, we wobble, we shake, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-freedia/everybody-in-the-world-now-wants-to-twerk-we-don-t-twerk-here-in-new/) [Big Freedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-freedia/) > [When you look back at your career, there are moments that are levels that you hit and you bounce off them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guido-palau/when-you-look-back-at-your-career-there-are-moments-that-are-levels/) [Guido Palau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guido-palau/) > [Playing on turf affects everything, you know, it affects the way the ball rolls, it affects the way the ball bounces, it affects the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-wambach/playing-on-turf-affects-everything-you-know-it-affects-the-way-the/) [Abby Wambach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-wambach/) > [You've got a great chance in college to do all sorts of terrible irresponsible things, and you should totally do them. I mean, make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/you-ve-got-a-great-chance-in-college-to-do-all-sorts-of-terrible/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Turbulence, like many forms of trouble, cannot always be seen. We bounce so hard my arms sail helplessly above my head. In evolution, wing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretel-ehrlich/turbulence-like-many-forms-of-trouble-cannot-always-be-seen-we-bounce/) [Gretel Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretel-ehrlich/) > [I like to see people who are survivors wearing my shoes. I am fascinated by people who can bounce back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/i-like-to-see-people-who-are-survivors-wearing-my-shoes-i-am/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [I think it's good for an actor to bounce between stuff on camera and stuff in theatre. If I could do half and half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-madden/i-think-it-s-good-for-an-actor-to-bounce-between-stuff-on-camera-and/) [Richard Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-madden/) > [Come on, Rabbit. Let's you and me bounce, huh?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tigger/come-on-rabbit-let-s-you-and-me-bounce-huh/) [Tigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tigger/) > [It is very important to always hold the thought of an enlightened teacher in your mind in a very positive way. When you direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-is-very-important-to-always-hold-the-thought-of-an-enlightened/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [My whole career, I've tried to bounce back and forth between everything, and not get typed out. I've done a pretty good job of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-root/my-whole-career-i-ve-tried-to-bounce-back-and-forth-between/) [Stephen Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-root/) > [Sourav's greatest strength is his mind. He is hardworking - not only in the nets but also mentally. He bounces back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/sourav-s-greatest-strength-is-his-mind-he-is-hardworking-not-only-in/) [Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/) > [People who have a sense of self-efficacy bounce back from failure; they approach things in terms of how to handle them rather than worrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/people-who-have-a-sense-of-self-efficacy-bounce-back-from-failure/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [The bottom line: if you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family's positive moments and your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/the-bottom-line-if-you-want-a-happier-family-create-refine-and-retell/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) Browse all 410 Bounce quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jesse Jackson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/leaders-must-be-tough-enough-to-fight-tender-enough-to-cry-human/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bounce" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/leaders-must-be-tough-enough-to-fight-tender-enough-to-cry-human/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/jesse-jackson-1161_bounce_leaders-must-be-tough-enough-to-fight-te_925651.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/jesse-jackson-1161_bounce_leaders-must-be-tough-enough-to-fight-te_925651.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/jesse-jackson-1161_bounce_leaders-must-be-tough-enough-to-fight-te_925651.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to…” — Jesse Jackson", "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": "Jesse Jackson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Leaders must be tough enough to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/leaders-must-be-tough-enough-to-fight-tender-enough-to-cry-human/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/leaders-must-be-tough-enough-to-fight-tender-enough-to-cry-human/#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 } } ] } ```