---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that every leader has a right…"
description: "\"I believe that every leader has a right to implement his own policy. But when I see things that are done that are not right - abuse of power, wrong app..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/mahathir-mohamad-3562_abuse_i-believe-that-every-leader-has-a-right_1950231.png"
---

#  I believe that every leader has a right to implement his…

![“I believe that every leader has a right to implement his own policy. But when I see things that are done that are not right - abuse of power, wrong approaches, wrong strategies, making use of foreign consultants, including those discarded by other countries - I feel that I have to have my say.” quote by Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/mahathir-mohamad-3562_abuse_i-believe-that-every-leader-has-a-right_1950231.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/mahathir-mohamad-3562_abuse_i-believe-that-every-leader-has-a-right_1950231.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/mahathir-mohamad-3562_abuse_i-believe-that-every-leader-has-a-right_1950231.png)

> “I believe that every leader has a right to implement his own policy. But when I see things that are done that are not right - abuse of power, wrong approaches, wrong strategies, making use of foreign consultants, including those discarded by other countries - I feel that I have to have my say.”

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

## About This Quote

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

Leaders must speak against misuse of power, even when it challenges their own policies.

**In simple terms:** Speak up against abuse.

Key Takeaway

Voice opposition to wrongdoing.

Themes

leadership ethics accountability politics power abuse

Mood

determined concerned

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- government oversight
- public forums
- media interviews

Key Concepts

Governance moral responsibility civic duty

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance loyalty and truth?
- What mechanisms ensure leaders are heard?

A Different Perspective

Risk of political backlash or marginalization.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Abuse of power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse-of-power/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/)

## Related quotes

> [“The wrong approaches to faith and to skepticism are equally detrimental to the path. For the former declares its answers too soon and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-wrong-approaches-to-faith-and-to-skepticism-are-equally/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [I have to be able to implement a policy that doesn't completely erase borders and boundaries. Not because I think that Honduran child who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-have-to-be-able-to-implement-a-policy-that-doesn-t-completely-erase/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [To involve young people and make sure that the system is more relevant to them in Scotland, we have a clear obligation to implement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/to-involve-young-people-and-make-sure-that-the-system-is-more/)

[Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/)

> [It is not the intelligence community's place to set and implement policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clapper/it-is-not-the-intelligence-community-s-place-to-set-and-implement/)

[James Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clapper/)

> [The first step for a leader is to be right with yourself. Integrity is the basis of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-first-step-for-a-leader-is-to-be-right-with-yourself-integrity-is/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [As a leader, you have no right to have any employee wonder how they fit in and where they are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/as-a-leader-you-have-no-right-to-have-any-employee-wonder-how-they/)

[Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/)

> [To keep the wrong leader in the wrong place prevents the right leader from being in the right place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-malphurs/to-keep-the-wrong-leader-in-the-wrong-place-prevents-the-right-leader/)

[Aubrey Malphurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-malphurs/)

> [“Every leader has a right to lead followers in the right direction and the responsibility to empower them to achieve much more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/every-leader-has-a-right-to-lead-followers-in-the-right-direction-and/)

[Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/)

> [As a leader, you have to not only do the right thing, but be perceived to be doing the right thing. A consequence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-sonnenfeld/as-a-leader-you-have-to-not-only-do-the-right-thing-but-be-perceived/)

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld

> [It's hard to be a leader right away, but playing quarterback, you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dalton/it-s-hard-to-be-a-leader-right-away-but-playing-quarterback-you-have/)

[Andy Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dalton/)

> [No leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man's religion or faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/no-leader-especially-a-religious-leader-should-have-the-right-to/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [A leader has the right to be beaten, but never the right to be surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-leader-has-the-right-to-be-beaten-but-never-the-right-to-be/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [Be with a leader when he is right, stay with him when he is still right, but, leave him when he is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/be-with-a-leader-when-he-is-right-stay-with-him-when-he-is-still/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [“The important thing about being a leader is not being right or wrong but being certain. Of course it helps to be right as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-important-thing-about-being-a-leader-is-not-being-right-or-wrong/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [All countries will feel the increasing effects of dangerous climate change and it is those least able to bear it who are already being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-benn/all-countries-will-feel-the-increasing-effects-of-dangerous-climate/)

[Hilary Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-benn/)

## More by Mahathir Mohamad

> [I cannot keep quiet even when I am a lone voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-cannot-keep-quiet-even-when-i-am-a-lone-voice/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [The Internet is undermining moral values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/the-internet-is-undermining-moral-values/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [In Malaysia, trials have always been fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/in-malaysia-trials-have-always-been-fair/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [There are certain things that we can deal with by following the rules. But at times, we find the rules restrict you from doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/there-are-certain-things-that-we-can-deal-with-by-following-the-rules/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [A heretic can be tolerated. But a heresy cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/a-heretic-can-be-tolerated-but-a-heresy-cannot/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [The Malays are spiritually inclined, tolerant, and easy-going. The non-Malays, and especially the Chinese, are materialistic, aggressive, and have an appetite for work. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/the-malays-are-spiritually-inclined-tolerant-and-easy-going-the-non/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [Any organisation has a future, provided it is properly led and it sticks to the objective of that organisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/any-organisation-has-a-future-provided-it-is-properly-led-and-it/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [In the eyes of the world, Malaysia has become a pariah state, a state where anyone can be hauled up and questioned by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/in-the-eyes-of-the-world-malaysia-has-become-a-pariah-state-a-state/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [I not only think but also look and study things carefully. When I travel around, I look at things carefully, make comparisons of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-not-only-think-but-also-look-and-study-things-carefully-when-i/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [Suppose a part of Britain or a part of America was taken away and given to the Jews as Israel. Do you think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/suppose-a-part-of-britain-or-a-part-of-america-was-taken-away-and/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [When you have a prime minister who is corrupt, then you can be sure that a country cannot be anything else but corrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/when-you-have-a-prime-minister-who-is-corrupt-then-you-can-be-sure/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [I am the first authoritarian government elected to become a dictator and then resigning as a dictator. So this is the first dictator in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-am-the-first-authoritarian-government-elected-to-become-a-dictator/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [It would seem the people who want to preserve the Penans' way of life are condemning them to a life full of diseases and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/it-would-seem-the-people-who-want-to-preserve-the-penans-way-of-life/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [Once started, religious strife has a tendency to go on and on - to become permanent feuds. Today we see such intractable inter-religious wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/once-started-religious-strife-has-a-tendency-to-go-on-and-on-to/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

> [Membership of an organisation is good, as long as you can make yourself heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/membership-of-an-organisation-is-good-as-long-as-you-can-make/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

[Explore all 126 Mahathir Mohamad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

## More Abuse quotes

> [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/)

[Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/)

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

> [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/)

[Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/)

> [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/)

[Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/)

> [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/)

[Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/)

> [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/)

[Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/)

> [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/)

[Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/)

> [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/)

[Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/)

> [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/)

[Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/)

> [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/)

[Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/)

> [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/)

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

> [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/)

[Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/)

> [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/)

[Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/)

> [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/)

[Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/)

[Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I believe that every leader has a right to implement his own policy. But when I see things that are done that are not right - abuse of power, wrong approaches, wrong strategies, making use of foreign consultants, including those discarded by other countries - I feel that I have to have my say.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mahathir Mohamad"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-believe-that-every-leader-has-a-right-to-implement-his-own-policy/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Abuse"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-believe-that-every-leader-has-a-right-to-implement-his-own-policy/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/mahathir-mohamad-3562_abuse_i-believe-that-every-leader-has-a-right_1950231.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/mahathir-mohamad-3562_abuse_i-believe-that-every-leader-has-a-right_1950231.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/mahathir-mohamad-3562_abuse_i-believe-that-every-leader-has-a-right_1950231.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I believe that every leader has a right to implement his own policy. But when I see things that are done…” — Mahathir Mohamad",
                "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": "Mahathir Mohamad",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I believe that every leader has...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-believe-that-every-leader-has-a-right-to-implement-his-own-policy/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-believe-that-every-leader-has-a-right-to-implement-his-own-policy/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
