--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: During critical periods, a leader is not…" description: "\"During critical periods, a leader is not allowed to feel sorry for himself, to be down, to be angry, or to be weak. Leaders must beat back these emotio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/mike-krzyzewski-2324_angry_during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not_2412440.jpg" --- # During critical periods, a leader is not allowed to feel… ![“During critical periods, a leader is not allowed to feel sorry for himself, to be down, to be angry, or to be weak. Leaders must beat back these emotions” quote by Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/mike-krzyzewski-2324_angry_during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not_2412440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/mike-krzyzewski-2324_angry_during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not_2412440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/mike-krzyzewski-2324_angry_during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not_2412440.jpg) > “During critical periods, a leader is not allowed to feel sorry for himself, to be down, to be angry, or to be weak. Leaders must beat back these emotions” [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A leader must suppress personal negative emotions during crises to maintain strength and guide others effectively. **In simple terms:** Leaders should stay strong, not wallow in self‑pity. Key Takeaway Control emotions, stay resilient. Themes leadership emotional intelligence crisis management Mood determined serious focused Type advice motivational When to use this quote - emergency response - sports coaching - corporate turnaround - military command - political leadership Key Concepts resilience self‑regulation team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance emotional honesty with leadership duties? - When is it okay to show vulnerability? A Different Perspective Over‑suppressing feelings can lead to burnout or inauthenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) [Basketball leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-leadership/) [Best coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-coaches/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Volleyball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volleyball/) [Weak leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-leaders/) ## Related quotes > [“Times moves differently down here in the dark. With no sunlight or shadows. No weather at all. There's no future, no right now. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-snyder/times-moves-differently-down-here-in-the-dark-with-no-sunlight-or/) [Scott Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-snyder/) > [One thing I am is a leader and if I'm not allowed to lead, then I have to follow. So then I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-davis/one-thing-i-am-is-a-leader-and-if-i-m-not-allowed-to-lead-then-i-have/) [Baron Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-davis/) > [As leader, you're not allowed to go out and have beers on Friday night and break character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcnealy/as-leader-you-re-not-allowed-to-go-out-and-have-beers-on-friday-night/) [Scott McNealy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcnealy/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Whatever a leader does now sets up what he does later. And there's always a later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/whatever-a-leader-does-now-sets-up-what-he-does-later-and-there-s/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Every leader needs to remember that a healthy respect for authority takes time to develop. It’s like building trust. You don’t instantly have trust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/every-leader-needs-to-remember-that-a-healthy-respect-for-authority/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [A leader has to be positive about all things that happen to his team. Look at nothing in the past as failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/a-leader-has-to-be-positive-about-all-things-that-happen-to-his-team/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [When a leader takes responsibility for his own actions and mistakes, he not only sets a good example, he shows a healthy respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/when-a-leader-takes-responsibility-for-his-own-actions-and-mistakes/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [People want to be on a team. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves. They want to be in a situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/people-want-to-be-on-a-team-they-want-to-be-part-of-something-bigger/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [The lesson must be learned that American leadership matters, and weak leaders leave our friends and allies more vulnerable against violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/the-lesson-must-be-learned-that-american-leadership-matters-and-weak/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy; forceful execution of even a poor plan can often bring victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/weak-leadership-can-wreck-the-soundest-strategy-forceful-execution-of/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [I have never been over concerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/i-have-never-been-over-concerned-or-obsessed-with-opinion-polls-or/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [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/) > [Weak leaders of churches blame people and circumstances. Breakout church leaders accept responsibility and see God's possibilities in even difficult situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-s-rainer/weak-leaders-of-churches-blame-people-and-circumstances-breakout/) [Thom S. Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-s-rainer/) > [Misfortunes, untoward events, lay open, disclose the skill of a general, while success conceals his weakness, his weak points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/misfortunes-untoward-events-lay-open-disclose-the-skill-of-a-general/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) ## More by Mike Krzyzewski > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Good sound habits are more important than rules - use concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/good-sound-habits-are-more-important-than-rules-use-concepts/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Always get back to your core principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/always-get-back-to-your-core-principles/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Parents can really help, but they can also really hinder the development of their youngsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/parents-can-really-help-but-they-can-also-really-hinder-the/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [That's what I do now: I lead and I teach. If we win basketball games from doing that, then that's great, but I lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/that-s-what-i-do-now-i-lead-and-i-teach-if-we-win-basketball-games/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [I hated to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-hated-to-lose/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [We lost, and that's the main thing that went wrong,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/we-lost-and-that-s-the-main-thing-that-went-wrong/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Leadership is simple: Add value to people everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/leadership-is-simple-add-value-to-people-everyday/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [As teachers and coaches, we must remember that when mere winning is our only goal, we are doomed to disappointment and failure. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/as-teachers-and-coaches-we-must-remember-that-when-mere-winning-is/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [I don't think we surprise people. We try to out-execute them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-think-we-surprise-people-we-try-to-out-execute-them/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [A common mistake among those who work in sport is spending a disproportional amount of time on "x's and o's" as compared to time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/a-common-mistake-among-those-who-work-in-sport-is-spending-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [If you set up an atmosphere of community and trust, it becomes a tradition. Older team members will establish your credibility with newer ones.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/if-you-set-up-an-atmosphere-of-community-and-trust-it-becomes-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Confidence shared is better than confidence only in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/confidence-shared-is-better-than-confidence-only-in-yourself/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [A leader's responsibility to his team is paramount. It overshadows even his own personal feelings at any given time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/a-leader-s-responsibility-to-his-team-is-paramount-it-overshadows/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [The only way you're going to grow is to be in difficult situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/the-only-way-you-re-going-to-grow-is-to-be-in-difficult-situations/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) [Explore all 171 Mike Krzyzewski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) ## More Angry quotes > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [There's only so much for a man to take...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gilchrist/there-s-only-so-much-for-a-man-to-take/) Kirsten Gilchrist > [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-re-frustrated-with-people-when-they-ve-made-you-angry-it/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When I was writing 'Black Panther,' on one level, I was angry because DC would never let me write 'Batman,' so I was doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/when-i-was-writing-black-panther-on-one-level-i-was-angry-because-dc/) [Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [I'm an angry guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gandolfini/i-m-an-angry-guy/) [James Gandolfini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gandolfini/) > [Apparently, I'm the angriest man. I don't know. It's just an interpretation. If it was someone else, they might be called focused or competitive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alun-wyn-jones/apparently-i-m-the-angriest-man-i-don-t-know-it-s-just-an/) [Alun Wyn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alun-wyn-jones/) > [In the 1998 Oscars, I found myself in the bathroom in a stall, next to Tom Selleck. So I leaned over and I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/in-the-1998-oscars-i-found-myself-in-the-bathroom-in-a-stall-next-to/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [Of course I get angry, but I want to use my brain a little bit and not just smash things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/of-course-i-get-angry-but-i-want-to-use-my-brain-a-little-bit-and-not/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) [Browse all 3,857 Angry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "During critical periods, a leader is not allowed to feel sorry for himself, to be down, to be angry, or to be weak. Leaders must beat back these emotions", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Krzyzewski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not-allowed-to-feel-sorry-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Angry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not-allowed-to-feel-sorry-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/mike-krzyzewski-2324_angry_during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not_2412440.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/mike-krzyzewski-2324_angry_during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not_2412440.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/mike-krzyzewski-2324_angry_during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not_2412440.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“During critical periods, a leader is not allowed to feel sorry for himself, to be down, to be angry, or to…” — Mike Krzyzewski", "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": "Mike Krzyzewski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "During critical periods, a leader is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not-allowed-to-feel-sorry-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/during-critical-periods-a-leader-is-not-allowed-to-feel-sorry-for/#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 } } ] } ```