--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came to the conclusion that unless you…" description: "\"I came to the conclusion that unless you are ruled properly, you cannot move forward. Everything else is second. Everything.\" — Mo Ibrahim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/mo-ibrahim-3354_came_i-came-to-the-conclusion-that-unless-you_618036.jpg" --- # I came to the conclusion that unless you are ruled… ![“I came to the conclusion that unless you are ruled properly, you cannot move forward. Everything else is second. Everything.” quote by Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/mo-ibrahim-3354_came_i-came-to-the-conclusion-that-unless-you_618036.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/mo-ibrahim-3354_came_i-came-to-the-conclusion-that-unless-you_618036.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/mo-ibrahim-3354_came_i-came-to-the-conclusion-that-unless-you_618036.jpg) > “I came to the conclusion that unless you are ruled properly, you cannot move forward. Everything else is second. Everything.” [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective governance is essential for progress; without it, other efforts are secondary. **In simple terms:** Good rule is needed for forward movement. Key Takeaway Prioritize strong governance for development. Themes governance development leadership Mood analytical serious Type policy developmental When to use this quote - national planning - NGO projects - economic reform Key Concepts Institutional capacity policy effectiveness Questions to Reflect On - What governance reforms drive growth? - How to balance governance with other priorities? A Different Perspective Governance alone may not solve all problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came/) [Cannot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannot/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Conclusion Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion-unless-5006830/) [Else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/else/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) [I came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-came/) [Move](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move/) [Move forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move-forward/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Moving forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-forward/) [Properly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/properly/) [Properly Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/properly-forward-5006832/) [Ruled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruled/) [Ruled Properly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruled-properly-5006831/) [Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second/) [Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless/) [Unless Ruled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless-ruled-5006829/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Increasing extremism - across Africa and the world - must be understood in the context of the failure of our leaders properly to manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/increasing-extremism-across-africa-and-the-world-must-be-understood/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Celebrating historic triumphs is a favorite pastime for many Turks. Tales of how Turkic peoples emerged from Central Asia, crossed the steppes to Anatolia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/celebrating-historic-triumphs-is-a-favorite-pastime-for-many-turks/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [“One who rules is ruled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/one-who-rules-is-ruled/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [Of course, women have long exercised influence behind the scenes. A few thousand years ago this drove Aristotle to distraction: 'What difference does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/of-course-women-have-long-exercised-influence-behind-the-scenes-a-few/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [Nineteen-seventy-nine had been a year of American setbacks around the globe. Before the year began, Cuban troops were already roaming Angola, and a pro-Communist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/nineteen-seventy-nine-had-been-a-year-of-american-setbacks-around-the/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [We came to enjoy; we are being enjoyed. We came to rule; we are being ruled. We came to work; we are being worked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-came-to-enjoy-we-are-being-enjoyed-we-came-to-rule-we-are-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Rulers craft stories, the ruled listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amogh-swamy/rulers-craft-stories-the-ruled-listen/) [Amogh Swamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amogh-swamy/) > [For all his sourness, he was ruled by his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/for-all-his-sourness-he-was-ruled-by-his-heart/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [“Her mind was blank and her heart and body ruled. And those? They were his property.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherrie-lynn/her-mind-was-blank-and-her-heart-and-body-ruled-and-those-they-were/) [Cherrie Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherrie-lynn/) > [“As long as enough people can be frightened, then all people can be ruled. I am afraid that's how it works in a democracy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/as-long-as-enough-people-can-be-frightened-then-all-people-can-be/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [For those of us who originally disagreed with ObamaCare and now disagree with the majority opinion of the SCOTUS, the challenge remains the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-beauprez/for-those-of-us-who-originally-disagreed-with-obamacare-and-now/) [Bob Beauprez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-beauprez/) > [I lost in my first ever 400m race, the event I almost ruled later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/i-lost-in-my-first-ever-400m-race-the-event-i-almost-ruled-later/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [If the truth be told, we are a society that is dripping in racism. This is not in the least surprising. For the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/if-the-truth-be-told-we-are-a-society-that-is-dripping-in-racism-this/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [To be very clear, I have completely ruled out state funding for stadiums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/to-be-very-clear-i-have-completely-ruled-out-state-funding-for/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [We are ruled by quotations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/we-are-ruled-by-quotations/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) ## More by Mo Ibrahim > [Experience counts in government even more than in business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/experience-counts-in-government-even-more-than-in-business/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [It's time Africa started listening to our young people instead of always telling them what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/it-s-time-africa-started-listening-to-our-young-people-instead-of/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Remarkably, governments are beginning to embrace the idea that nothing enhances democracy more than giving voice and information to everybody in the country. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/remarkably-governments-are-beginning-to-embrace-the-idea-that-nothing/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [If economic progress is not translated into better quality of life and respect for citizens' rights, we will witness more Tahrir Squares in Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/if-economic-progress-is-not-translated-into-better-quality-of-life/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Africa is progressing but maybe not in the way you think it is. Even if the overall picture looks good, we must all remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/africa-is-progressing-but-maybe-not-in-the-way-you-think-it-is-even/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [People never confess to failure. They should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/people-never-confess-to-failure-they-should/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Governance has been at the heart of the work of the Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations and is a clear focus in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/governance-has-been-at-the-heart-of-the-work-of-the-oxford-martin/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [There's no point in trying to hoard money after life, so better really to share with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/there-s-no-point-in-trying-to-hoard-money-after-life-so-better-really/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [I need to be free, to speak the unspeakable. You can't do that in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/i-need-to-be-free-to-speak-the-unspeakable-you-can-t-do-that-in-office/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [If we cannot accurately measure poverty, we surely cannot accurately measure our efforts to tackle it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/if-we-cannot-accurately-measure-poverty-we-surely-cannot-accurately/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Business is global. Countries need to react to that; taxes need to be paid where profit arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/business-is-global-countries-need-to-react-to-that-taxes-need-to-be/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [I don't subscribe to the narrative that Africa is backward because of colonialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/i-don-t-subscribe-to-the-narrative-that-africa-is-backward-because-of/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Africa offers the highest return on investment in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/africa-offers-the-highest-return-on-investment-in-the-world/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Governance is everything. Without governance we have nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/governance-is-everything-without-governance-we-have-nothing/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [When you ask people what they think of Africa, they think of AIDS, genocide, disasters, famine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/when-you-ask-people-what-they-think-of-africa-they-think-of-aids/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) [Explore all 133 Mo Ibrahim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) ## More Came quotes > [After '8 Mile' came out and blew up, the ball has been rolling ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-benson-miller/after-8-mile-came-out-and-blew-up-the-ball-has-been-rolling-ever-since/) [Omar Benson Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-benson-miller/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-was-painfully-shy-so-my-aunt-suggested-to-my-mum-that-me-and-my/) [Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) [Deke Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deke-richards/) > [We only call at ducks when their rear ends are towards us. If I'm looking at you and you call my name, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jase-robertson/we-only-call-at-ducks-when-their-rear-ends-are-towards-us-if-i-m/) [Jase Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jase-robertson/) > [Yes, I worked in Montreal. I worked there for 20 years... I came back to Beauce in 2006 to represent the Beaucerons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxime-bernier/yes-i-worked-in-montreal-i-worked-there-for-20-years-i-came-back-to/) [Maxime Bernier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxime-bernier/) > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [As someone who came to New York in the 1970s, I was, like so many of my friends, a certified member of what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/as-someone-who-came-to-new-york-in-the-1970s-i-was-like-so-many-of-my/) [Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/) > [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“I came back to You because I could not find the kind and decent things I found in You anywhere else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-came-back-to-you-because-i-could-not-find-the-kind-and-decent/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. 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