--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America somehow thinks that leadership…" description: "\"America somehow thinks that leadership relates to governance, and it certainly does. But society is much bigger than governance, and some of the truly ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/jim-leach-27662_america_america-somehow-thinks-that-leadership-r_514748.jpg" --- # America somehow thinks that leadership relates to… ![“America somehow thinks that leadership relates to governance, and it certainly does. But society is much bigger than governance, and some of the truly great leadership of our society is outside the governance arena.” quote by Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/jim-leach-27662_america_america-somehow-thinks-that-leadership-r_514748.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/jim-leach-27662_america_america-somehow-thinks-that-leadership-r_514748.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/jim-leach-27662_america_america-somehow-thinks-that-leadership-r_514748.jpg) > “America somehow thinks that leadership relates to governance, and it certainly does. But society is much bigger than governance, and some of the truly great leadership of our society is outside the governance arena.” [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership extends beyond formal government roles, influencing society in many arenas. **In simple terms:** Leadership isn’t only political. Key Takeaway Cultivate influence wherever you are. Themes leadership society influence Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - non‑profit work - entrepreneurship - grassroots activism - education reform Key Concepts civic engagement community building Questions to Reflect On - Where can you lead outside politics? - How do you ensure ethical impact? A Different Perspective Not all leadership is effective or ethical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Governance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governance/) [Great leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leader/) [Great leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leaders/) [Great leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leadership/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [ The president \[of American research institute\] can act as the CEO and make a firm decision about the long-term development of the institution, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rosovsky/the-president-of-american-research-institute-can-act-as-the-ceo-and/) [Henry Rosovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rosovsky/) > [ It's clear that other problems such as \[...\] the domination of business over government, science, thought, and society, are much bigger than non-free software. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/it-s-clear-that-other-problems-such-as-the-domination-of-business/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [There is a great need for the introduction of new values in our society, where bigger is not necessarily better, where slower can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-nelson/there-is-a-great-need-for-the-introduction-of-new-values-in-our/) [Gaylord Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-nelson/) > [Not everybody gets to travel halfway around the world to see a whole different perspective. If we can see that on TV, we'll know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/not-everybody-gets-to-travel-halfway-around-the-world-to-see-a-whole/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [Be strong, but not rude; Be kind, but not weak; Be bold, but not bully; Be humble, but not timid; Be prooud, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/be-strong-but-not-rude-be-kind-but-not-weak-be-bold-but-not-bully-be/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [I love free trade, but we need great leadership to have real free trade. And we don't have good leadership. We have leadership that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-love-free-trade-but-we-need-great-leadership-to-have-real-free/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [At the heart of great leadership is a curious mind, heart, and spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/at-the-heart-of-great-leadership-is-a-curious-mind-heart-and-spirit/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [I was always interested in politics and I had great leadership skills from a young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-leigh-nel-peters/i-was-always-interested-in-politics-and-i-had-great-leadership-skills/) [Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-leigh-nel-peters/) > [As Ive progressed in my career, Ive come to appreciate -- and really value -- the other attributes that define a companys success beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/as-ive-progressed-in-my-career-ive-come-to-appreciate-and-really/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/he-who-has-never-learned-to-obey-cannot-be-a-good-commander/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Great leadership is not attained by pursuing greatness but by persevering through great tests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/great-leadership-is-not-attained-by-pursuing-greatness-but-by/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [Any great and inspiring leader or organization that ever existed set out to do something completely unrealistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/any-great-and-inspiring-leader-or-organization-that-ever-existed-set/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Great leadership and great companies aren't built overnight, and they're not built without capital. And capital can sometimes be counter-productive to building a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartz/great-leadership-and-great-companies-aren-t-built-overnight-and-they/) [Julia Hartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartz/) > [There was great leadership in this country at the time of World War II. There was also unrelenting resolve at home, in America's factories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-feller/there-was-great-leadership-in-this-country-at-the-time-of-world-war/) [Bob Feller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-feller/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## More by Jim Leach > [If you read literature, you put yourself in somebody else's shoes. You learn from great figures in literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/if-you-read-literature-you-put-yourself-in-somebody-else-s-shoes-you/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [America is very decentralized in how it supports the humanities, unlike European countries where virtually everything stems from the central government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/america-is-very-decentralized-in-how-it-supports-the-humanities/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [Our culture is more shaped by the arts and humanities than it often is by politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/our-culture-is-more-shaped-by-the-arts-and-humanities-than-it-often/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [A government of, by and for the people is obligated to conduct the nation's business in a manner that respects dissent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/a-government-of-by-and-for-the-people-is-obligated-to-conduct-the/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [Politics has high and low moments. Sometimes it brings out the better angels of our nature; sometimes baser instincts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/politics-has-high-and-low-moments-sometimes-it-brings-out-the-better/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [I am appalled by the notion of cultural wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/i-am-appalled-by-the-notion-of-cultural-wars/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [Civility is not simply about manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/civility-is-not-simply-about-manners/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [I think America is going to have to think through whether it wants to uplift the political dialogue or advance an approach that divides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-think-through-whether-it-wants-to/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [No activity I know is more of a confidence builder and at the same time more 'humility training' than wrestling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/no-activity-i-know-is-more-of-a-confidence-builder-and-at-the-same/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [Public decision-making does not lend itself to certitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/public-decision-making-does-not-lend-itself-to-certitude/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [I have a long-term interest in the humanities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/i-have-a-long-term-interest-in-the-humanities/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [The arts and humanities are vastly more important in troubled times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/the-arts-and-humanities-are-vastly-more-important-in-troubled-times/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [There are words bandied about that are being misused - words like 'socialism,' words like 'communism,' words like 'fascism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/there-are-words-bandied-about-that-are-being-misused-words-like/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [It is hard to cement any relations with any country based on promises that may not be deliverable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/it-is-hard-to-cement-any-relations-with-any-country-based-on-promises/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [History provides a sense of where we've been and lessons that can be taken forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/history-provides-a-sense-of-where-we-ve-been-and-lessons-that-can-be/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) [Explore all 20 Jim Leach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "America somehow thinks that leadership relates to governance, and it certainly does. 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