---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every great leader can take you back to a…"
description: "\"“Every great leader can take you back to a defining moment when they decided to lead”\" — John Paul Warren"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/john-paul-warren-6401_christian_every-great-leader-can-take-you-back-to_1637090.jpg"
---

#  Every great leader can take you back to a defining moment…

![“Every great leader can take you back to a defining moment when they decided to lead” quote by John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/john-paul-warren-6401_christian_every-great-leader-can-take-you-back-to_1637090.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/john-paul-warren-6401_christian_every-great-leader-can-take-you-back-to_1637090.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/john-paul-warren-6401_christian_every-great-leader-can-take-you-back-to_1637090.jpg)

> ““Every great leader can take you back to a defining moment when they decided to lead””

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Great leaders can recall pivotal moments that defined their purpose, guiding others with that clarity.

**In simple terms:** Leaders recall defining moments.

Key Takeaway

Reflect on your defining moments for leadership.

Themes

leadership purpose reflection history

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- team building
- coaching

Key Concepts

defining moments narrative identity

Questions to Reflect On

- What moment defined your path?
- How can you share that story?

A Different Perspective

Memories can be biased or romanticized.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Defining moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defining-moment/) [Great leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leader/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [I've decided to lead in a way that takes people with me. It's the approach that I think will stand not only our party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-weatherill/i-ve-decided-to-lead-in-a-way-that-takes-people-with-me-it-s-the/)

[Jay Weatherill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-weatherill/)

> [“and in that moment i decided to do nothing about everything”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/and-in-that-moment-i-decided-to-do-nothing-about-everything/)

[Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/)

> [I live now and only now, and I will do what I want to do this moment and not what I decided was best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-live-now-and-only-now-and-i-will-do-what-i-want-to-do-this-moment/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [The moment I decided to move on.. I was knowing you will keep coming back to mind..nites will be longer and days will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-moment-i-decided-to-move-on-i-was-knowing-you-will-keep-coming/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I was to be a bride, but whose? Councilor Branwick had assured me that the Council of Citizens would let me know the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-carter/i-was-to-be-a-bride-but-whose-councilor-branwick-had-assured-me-that/)

Lea Carter

> [The sign of a great leader is knowing what you know and knowing what you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-ahrendts/the-sign-of-a-great-leader-is-knowing-what-you-know-and-knowing-what/)

[Angela Ahrendts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-ahrendts/)

> [I have seen productions of Julius Caesar that set it in a modern, Western context and it just looks as though they're getting rid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-doran/i-have-seen-productions-of-julius-caesar-that-set-it-in-a-modern/)

[Gregory Doran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-doran/)

> [“Great leaders have three things; inner light, inner vision, and inner strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/great-leaders-have-three-things-inner-light-inner-vision-and-inner/)

[Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/)

> [“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [All great leaders choose great advisors, people they really trust for their governance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/all-great-leaders-choose-great-advisors-people-they-really-trust-for/)

[Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/)

> [“Great leaders don't make excuses. They make things better. They are not unrealistic or blind to the difficulties they face. They simply are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-t-blackaby/great-leaders-don-t-make-excuses-they-make-things-better-they-are-not/)

[Henry T. Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-t-blackaby/)

> [My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-law-montgomery/my-own-definition-of-leadership-is-this-the-capacity-and-the-will-to/)

[Bernard Law Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-law-montgomery/)

> [Blackbeard was larger than life. He was 6'4" in 1710. He was a colossus, and like a rock star walking into a bar. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevenson/blackbeard-was-larger-than-life-he-was-6-4-in-1710-he-was-a-colossus/)

[Ray Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevenson/)

> [Moses was a great leader, right? But he wasn't a great communicator. And so God sent him Aaron so he could, let's say, communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/moses-was-a-great-leader-right-but-he-wasn-t-a-great-communicator-and/)

[Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/)

> [“When you are with Marines gathering to eat, you will notice that the most junior are served first and the most senior are served…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-you-are-with-marines-gathering-to-eat-you-will-notice-that-the/)

[Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/)

## More by John Paul Warren

> [“Leaders in OVER their heads is the mere result of getting ahead of their intended SEASON.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/leaders-in-over-their-heads-is-the-mere-result-of-getting-ahead-of/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“When you SEE into the invisible, you will DARE to do the impossible!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/when-you-see-into-the-invisible-you-will-dare-to-do-the-impossible/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“Grace is not a doctrine or a religion. It is a person, Jesus Christ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/grace-is-not-a-doctrine-or-a-religion-it-is-a-person-jesus-christ/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“The law provides expert diagnosis of our sin problem, but the law does not provide the cure to our sin problem. Only Jesus can!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/the-law-provides-expert-diagnosis-of-our-sin-problem-but-the-law-does/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“When in darkness…strike a match”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/when-in-darkness-strike-a-match/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“Coming to the END of MYSELF and all SELF effort...seems to be the very point that God steps in and shows HIMSELF to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/coming-to-the-end-of-myself-and-all-self-effort-seems-to-be-the-very/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“Moving forward implies MOTION when in all actuality it may be simply standing STILL and seeing the salvation of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/moving-forward-implies-motion-when-in-all-actuality-it-may-be-simply/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“You have FALLEN from Grace when you seek to be Justification by your own self effort (the Law). Gal 5:4 AMP”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/you-have-fallen-from-grace-when-you-seek-to-be-justification-by-your/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“live as temporal, serve as eternal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/live-as-temporal-serve-as-eternal/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“I would rather live short and right then long and wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/i-would-rather-live-short-and-right-then-long-and-wrong/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“I define my life not by the things I have done, but by the people I have loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/i-define-my-life-not-by-the-things-i-have-done-but-by-the-people-i/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [A true dreamer is one who knows how to navigate in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/a-true-dreamer-is-one-who-knows-how-to-navigate-in-the-dark/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“I am not distracted by wrong because I am attracted to right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/i-am-not-distracted-by-wrong-because-i-am-attracted-to-right/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“Men of God are not just born, they are formed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/men-of-god-are-not-just-born-they-are-formed/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

> [“The sin of man was placed on a sinless Savior. 2 Cor. 5:21”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/the-sin-of-man-was-placed-on-a-sinless-savior-2-cor-5-21/)

[John Paul Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

[Explore all 99 John Paul Warren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/)

## More Christian quotes

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/)

[David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/)

> [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/)

[Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/)

> [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/)

[Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/)

> [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/)

[Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/)

> [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/)

[J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/)

[Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Every great leader can take you back to a defining moment when they decided to lead”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Paul Warren"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/every-great-leader-can-take-you-back-to-a-defining-moment-when-they/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christian"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/every-great-leader-can-take-you-back-to-a-defining-moment-when-they/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/john-paul-warren-6401_christian_every-great-leader-can-take-you-back-to_1637090.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/john-paul-warren-6401_christian_every-great-leader-can-take-you-back-to_1637090.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f93/john-paul-warren-6401_christian_every-great-leader-can-take-you-back-to_1637090.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Every great leader can take you back to a defining moment when they decided to lead” — John Paul Warren",
                "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": "John Paul Warren",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-warren/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Every great leader can take you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/every-great-leader-can-take-you-back-to-a-defining-moment-when-they/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-warren/every-great-leader-can-take-you-back-to-a-defining-moment-when-they/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
