--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Real leadership means tackling tough…" description: "\"Real leadership means tackling tough problems ourselves and not leaving them to our children.\" — Jon Kyl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/jon-kyl-19265_children_real-leadership-means-tackling-tough-pro_3166755.png" --- # Real leadership means tackling tough problems ourselves… ![“Real leadership means tackling tough problems ourselves and not leaving them to our children.” quote by Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/jon-kyl-19265_children_real-leadership-means-tackling-tough-pro_3166755.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/jon-kyl-19265_children_real-leadership-means-tackling-tough-pro_3166755.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/jon-kyl-19265_children_real-leadership-means-tackling-tough-pro_3166755.png) > “Real leadership means tackling tough problems ourselves and not leaving them to our children.” [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders should address difficult issues directly rather than passing them to future generations. **In simple terms:** Leaders solve problems now, not later. Key Takeaway Act on challenges today. Themes leadership responsibility future generations Mood determined serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political decisionmaking - family planning - environmental policy - business strategy Key Concepts civic duty ethical stewardship Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders balance personal action with delegating? - What issues are you deferring? A Different Perspective Complex problems often need collective effort, not just one person. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-means-570614/) [Leaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-leaders/) [Real Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-leadership-339693/) [Tackling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tackling/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) [Tough problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough-problems/) ## Related quotes > [We're up against the conventional thinking that says your ability to lead as president comes from longevity in Washington or proximity to the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-re-up-against-the-conventional-thinking-that-says-your-ability-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The idea that the UN system could provide real leadership on the great development challenges will strain credulity in some quarters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-sachs/the-idea-that-the-un-system-could-provide-real-leadership-on-the/) [Jeffrey Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-sachs/) > [We have an opportunity to have real leadership. 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Joss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-l-joss/) > [I hope many of you will be people that question why things are and why we have to do them the way we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/i-hope-many-of-you-will-be-people-that-question-why-things-are-and/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [“Real leadership isn’t proven by constant noise or reckless speed, it’s revealed over time through enduring results, wise timing, and unbreakable alignment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farshad-asl/real-leadership-isn-t-proven-by-constant-noise-or-reckless-speed-it-s/) [Farshad Asl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farshad-asl/) > [“Real leadership is treating your least favorite employee the same as your favorite”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-hasl-kelchner/real-leadership-is-treating-your-least-favorite-employee-the-same-as/) [Hanna Hasl-Kelchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-hasl-kelchner/) > [Change is healthy and useful. 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It's \[a problem with\] both parties, it's beyond belief. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/how-long-can-we-go-without-real-leadership-it-s-like-an-experiment-it/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [By leadership, I mean taking complete responsibility for an organization's well-being and growth, and changing it for the better. Real leadership is not about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-l-joss/by-leadership-i-mean-taking-complete-responsibility-for-an/) [Robert L. Joss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-l-joss/) > [Real leadership is being the person others will gladly and confidently follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/real-leadership-is-being-the-person-others-will-gladly-and/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Real leadership is calm. Real leadership is steady in moments of crisis. It is not hysterical. It is not exploitive. It is not dishonest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-keilar/real-leadership-is-calm-real-leadership-is-steady-in-moments-of/) [Brianna Keilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-keilar/) ## More by Jon Kyl > [It is unfair for our hospitals to bear a hugely disproportionate burden for mandated emergency health treatment for illegal aliens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/it-is-unfair-for-our-hospitals-to-bear-a-hugely-disproportionate/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [Arizonians are deeply proud of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's service to this country. She will always be remembered by Arizonans and all Americans as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/arizonians-are-deeply-proud-of-justice-sandra-day-o-connor-s-service/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [If you want an abortion you go to Planned Parenthood and that’s well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/if-you-want-an-abortion-you-go-to-planned-parenthood-and-that-s-well/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [The key thing is to ensure that we give the criminal-justice system the tools it needs, so that women's rights are turned into reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/the-key-thing-is-to-ensure-that-we-give-the-criminal-justice-system/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [No judicial nomination should answer any question that is designed to reveal how the nominee will rule on any issue that could come before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/no-judicial-nomination-should-answer-any-question-that-is-designed-to/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [While it's true that Washington would benefit from more civility, the Senate, behind the scenes, is an extraordinarily collegial institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/while-it-s-true-that-washington-would-benefit-from-more-civility-the/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [It seems that immigrants often have a special understanding of the incredible opportunities that this nation affords its citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/it-seems-that-immigrants-often-have-a-special-understanding-of-the/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [The Reagan years showed us that expanding economic freedom should be the North Star - the guiding light - of U.S. policy, because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/the-reagan-years-showed-us-that-expanding-economic-freedom-should-be/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [Politicians must pick sides regularly; every time they vote. So it's perhaps natural that they see the world as a battle between competing groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/politicians-must-pick-sides-regularly-every-time-they-vote-so-it-s/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [That claim was not intended to be a factual statement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/that-claim-was-not-intended-to-be-a-factual-statement/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [It would be hard to find a more compelling example of the American dream than Alberto Gonzales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/it-would-be-hard-to-find-a-more-compelling-example-of-the-american/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [It ought to be done by the elected officials themselves because they have the credibility. And it's not like we aren't willing to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kyl/it-ought-to-be-done-by-the-elected-officials-themselves-because-they/) [Jon Kyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kyl/) > [Everybody goes to clinics, to hospitals, to doctors, and so on. Some people go to Planned Parenthood. 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I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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