---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hear people everywhere saying that the…"
description: "\"I hear people everywhere saying that the trouble with our time is that we have no great leaders any more. If we look back we always had them. But to me..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/laurens-van-der-post-23539_clear_i-hear-people-everywhere-saying-that-the_3099796.jpg"
---

#  I hear people everywhere saying that the trouble with our…

![“I hear people everywhere saying that the trouble with our time is that we have no great leaders any more. If we look back we always had them. But to me it seems there is a very profound reason why there are no great leaders any more. It is because they are no longer needed. The message is clear…” quote by Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/laurens-van-der-post-23539_clear_i-hear-people-everywhere-saying-that-the_3099796.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/laurens-van-der-post-23539_clear_i-hear-people-everywhere-saying-that-the_3099796.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/laurens-van-der-post-23539_clear_i-hear-people-everywhere-saying-that-the_3099796.jpg)

> “I hear people everywhere saying that the trouble with our time is that we have no great leaders any more. If we look back we always had them. But to me it seems there is a very profound reason why there are no great leaders any more. It is because they are no longer needed. The message is clear. You no longer want to be led from the outside. Every man must be his own leader. He now knows enough not to follow other people. He must follow the light that's within himself, and through this light he will create a new community.”

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote argues that modern individuals reject external authority, choosing self‑leadership and inner guidance, which will form new communities.

**In simple terms:** People now prefer to lead themselves rather than follow others.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your inner guide and build community.

Themes

individualism leadership self‑reliance community autonomy

Mood

reflective hopeful critical

Type

philosophical motivational social commentary

When to use this quote

- entrepreneurship
- personal development
- grassroots organizing
- education
- political activism

Key Concepts

existentialism social evolution psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance self‑leadership with collaboration?
- When is external guidance still valuable?

A Different Perspective

It may overlook the need for collective decision‑making and expertise in complex societies.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Great leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leader/) [Great leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leaders/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leaders Longer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-longer-5367305/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Man Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-leader-303343/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Needed Message](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-message-5367306/) [Our time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-time/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-why/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/)

## Related quotes

> [It's not just that individuals have lost faith in the integrity of their leaders, it's that they no longer believe society's most powerful institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/it-s-not-just-that-individuals-have-lost-faith-in-the-integrity-of/)

[Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/)

> [“Get this into your head right from the start. Make backstage kids your best friends. Do not take all the glory. It is lonely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-goldin/get-this-into-your-head-right-from-the-start-make-backstage-kids-your/)

[Lisa Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-goldin/)

> [ He \[Mikhail Gorbachev\] has, as many great leaders have, impressive eyes…There's a kind of laser-beam stare, a forced quality, you get from Gorbachev that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/he-mikhail-gorbachev-has-as-many-great-leaders-have-impressive-eyes/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [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/)

> [Most experts and great leaders agree that leaders are made, not born, and that they are made through their own drive for learning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/most-experts-and-great-leaders-agree-that-leaders-are-made-not-born/)

[Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/)

> [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/)

> [If you want to be a great leader, remember to treat all people with respect at all times. For one, because you never know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/if-you-want-to-be-a-great-leader-remember-to-treat-all-people-with/)

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

> [“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/)

> [“Sonderheim was a man of some calibre, but he had not got to where he was today without demonstrating the characteristics of many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-p-irvine/sonderheim-was-a-man-of-some-calibre-but-he-had-not-got-to-where-he/)

[Ian C.P. Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-p-irvine/)

> [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/)

> [“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 Laurens van der Post

> [There is a way in which the collective knowledge of mankind expresses itself, for the finite individual, through mere daily living . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/there-is-a-way-in-which-the-collective-knowledge-of-mankind-expresses/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [Man is never alone. Acknowledged or unacknowledged, that which dreams through him is always there to support him from within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/man-is-never-alone-acknowledged-or-unacknowledged-that-which-dreams/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [You cannot take the life of your times further than you have taken yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/you-cannot-take-the-life-of-your-times-further-than-you-have-taken/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [Of all man's inborn dispositions there is none more heroic than the love in him. Everything else accepts defeat and dies, but love will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/of-all-man-s-inborn-dispositions-there-is-none-more-heroic-than-the/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [Creativity and love come from the same source.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/creativity-and-love-come-from-the-same-source/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [Human beings are perhaps never more frightening than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/human-beings-are-perhaps-never-more-frightening-than-when-they-are/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [The age of leaders has come and gone. You must be your own leader now. You must contain the spirit of our time in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/the-age-of-leaders-has-come-and-gone-you-must-be-your-own-leader-now/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [I suspect it was...the old story of the implacable necessity of a man having honour within his own natural spirit. A man cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/i-suspect-it-was-the-old-story-of-the-implacable-necessity-of-a-man/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [In a profound sense every man has two halves to his being; he is not one person so much as two persons trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/in-a-profound-sense-every-man-has-two-halves-to-his-being-he-is-not/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [Life is its own journey, presupposes its own change and movement, and one tries to arrest them at one's eternal peril.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/life-is-its-own-journey-presupposes-its-own-change-and-movement-and/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [The educating of the parents is really the education of the child children tend to live what is unlived in the parents, so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/the-educating-of-the-parents-is-really-the-education-of-the-child/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [“We may not be able to stop and undo the hard old wrongs of the great world outside, but through you and me no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/we-may-not-be-able-to-stop-and-undo-the-hard-old-wrongs-of-the-great/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [“As the natural coherence of the world vanishes, there's a guilt that grows great and angry in the basement of our beings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/as-the-natural-coherence-of-the-world-vanishes-there-s-a-guilt-that/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [“It's the not-yet in the now, the taste of the fruit that does not-yet exist, hanging the blossom on the bough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/it-s-the-not-yet-in-the-now-the-taste-of-the-fruit-that-does-not-yet/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

> [“Modern man has lost the sense of wonder about the unknown and he treats it as an enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/modern-man-has-lost-the-sense-of-wonder-about-the-unknown-and-he/)

[Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

[Explore all 25 Laurens van der Post quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/)

## More Clear quotes

> [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/)

[Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

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

> [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/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. 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/)

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/)

[Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/)

> [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/)

[Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/)

> [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/)

[Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/)

> [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/)

[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

> [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/)

[Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/)

> [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/)

[Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

[Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I hear people everywhere saying that the trouble with our time is that we have no great leaders any more. If we look back we always had them. But to me it seems there is a very profound reason why there are no great leaders any more. It is because they are no longer needed. The message is clear. You no longer want to be led from the outside. Every man must be his own leader. He now knows enough not to follow other people. He must follow the light that's within himself, and through this light he will create a new community.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Laurens van der Post"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/i-hear-people-everywhere-saying-that-the-trouble-with-our-time-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Clear"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/i-hear-people-everywhere-saying-that-the-trouble-with-our-time-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/laurens-van-der-post-23539_clear_i-hear-people-everywhere-saying-that-the_3099796.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/laurens-van-der-post-23539_clear_i-hear-people-everywhere-saying-that-the_3099796.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/laurens-van-der-post-23539_clear_i-hear-people-everywhere-saying-that-the_3099796.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I hear people everywhere saying that the trouble with our time is that we have no great leaders any more. If…” — Laurens van der Post",
                "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": "Laurens van der Post",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I hear people everywhere saying that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/i-hear-people-everywhere-saying-that-the-trouble-with-our-time-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/i-hear-people-everywhere-saying-that-the-trouble-with-our-time-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
