--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The function of leadership is to produce…" description: "\"The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.\" — Ralph Nader" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/ralph-nader-1783_followers_the-function-of-leadership-is-to-produce_3202040.png" --- # The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not… ![“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” quote by Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/ralph-nader-1783_followers_the-function-of-leadership-is-to-produce_3202040.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/ralph-nader-1783_followers_the-function-of-leadership-is-to-produce_3202040.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/ralph-nader-1783_followers_the-function-of-leadership-is-to-produce_3202040.png) > “The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership should create new leaders, not just followers. **In simple terms:** Leaders develop other leaders. Key Takeaway Focus on cultivating leaders. Themes leadership empowerment legacy Mood inspirational strategic Type philosophical leadership When to use this quote - company training - nonprofit board - community activism - political movements Key Concepts organizational development mentor-ment succession planning Questions to Reflect On - How can you empower others today? - What structures support leader development? A Different Perspective Too many leaders remain authoritarian. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Followers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followers/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ## Related quotes > [I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/i-start-with-the-premise-that-the-function-of-leadership-is-to/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [You see it's leaders and there's followers...But I'd rather be a dick than a swallower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/you-see-it-s-leaders-and-there-s-followers-but-i-d-rather-be-a-dick/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“The function of leadership – the number-one responsibility of a leader – is to catalyze a clear and shared vision for the organization and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kallman/the-function-of-leadership-the-number-one-responsibility-of-a-leader/) Ted Kallman > [“there's leaders, and there's followers...but I'd rather be a d\*ck than a swallower”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/there-s-leaders-and-there-s-followers-but-i-d-rather-be-a-d-ck-than-a/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“Some individual's demand respect while other's just earn it. There are three types of people, two are essential to any mission; leaders, followers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-brooks/some-individual-s-demand-respect-while-other-s-just-earn-it-there-are/) S. E. Brooks > [Keep in mind that we are leaders not followers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-fairley/keep-in-mind-that-we-are-leaders-not-followers/) A Fairley > [You did what your heart told you to do,' Brain complimented. 'It is what leaders, not followers, do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonya-hurley/you-did-what-your-heart-told-you-to-do-brain-complimented-it-is-what/) [Tonya Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonya-hurley/) > [Leadership is an influence relationship among leaders and followers who intend real changes that reflect their mutual purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-c-rost/leadership-is-an-influence-relationship-among-leaders-and-followers/) Joseph C. Rost > [The leader is one who mobilizes others toward a goal shared by leaders and followers. ... Leaders, followers and goals make up the three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-leader-is-one-who-mobilizes-others-toward-a-goal-shared-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Great leaders create leaders, not followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmine-tariq/great-leaders-create-leaders-not-followers/) [Yasmine Tariq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmine-tariq/) > [“In this life of our' there will be leaders and there will be followers',, You Lead' and when you must follow follow GOD'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasiah-rosariio/in-this-life-of-our-there-will-be-leaders-and-there-will-be-followers/) Jasiah Rosariio > [Though there are many types of people, leaders, followers, business men, artists, spiritual leaders, and so on, the fact remains that a person's life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/though-there-are-many-types-of-people-leaders-followers-business-men/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Respect for leaders by followers can't be mandated; it must be earned. It has to be given to leaders by their followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/respect-for-leaders-by-followers-can-t-be-mandated-it-must-be-earned/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There are leaders and there are followers. Followers follow leaders and leaders follow their heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/there-are-leaders-and-there-are-followers-followers-follow-leaders/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [The future of any corporation is as good as the value system of the leaders and followers in the organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/the-future-of-any-corporation-is-as-good-as-the-value-system-of-the/) [N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/) ## More by Ralph Nader > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Nuclear power must be dealt with irrationally. . . . Nuclear plants are carcinogens. Let's get that story out. . . . Their lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/nuclear-power-must-be-dealt-with-irrationally-nuclear-plants-are/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [In 2000 the majority of people wanted me and Buchanan on the debates in two thousand. And me on the debates in 2004. have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/in-2000-the-majority-of-people-wanted-me-and-buchanan-on-the-debates/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [What we need to recognize, less than 1 percent of the people organized around issues that are already supported by conservatives and liberals, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/what-we-need-to-recognize-less-than-1-percent-of-the-people-organized/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [We live in a two-party tyranny that doesn't believe in competition, can enforce it with penalties and obstructions, and they're getting closer and closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/we-live-in-a-two-party-tyranny-that-doesn-t-believe-in-competition/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [George W. Bush is very vulnerable but not if you campaign the way the major candidates - except for Dean and Kucinich - are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/george-w-bush-is-very-vulnerable-but-not-if-you-campaign-the-way-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [In the meantime the big corporations are fleeing America for tax havens and places like Ireland, Luxembourg and the Grand Cayman Islands; the rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/in-the-meantime-the-big-corporations-are-fleeing-america-for-tax/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Full Medicare-for-all, free choice of doctor and hospital: that comes in sixty to seventy percent without even further explanation. And if you ever explained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/full-medicare-for-all-free-choice-of-doctor-and-hospital-that-comes/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [I always say there's no ticket of admission for active citizenship. Anybody can get through that gate, and anybody can ask that basic question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/i-always-say-there-s-no-ticket-of-admission-for-active-citizenship/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [People have got to show up, showing up at meetings, rallies, marches, City Council, courtrooms. You've got to show up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/people-have-got-to-show-up-showing-up-at-meetings-rallies-marches/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [For almost seventy years the life insurance industry has been a smug sacred cow feeding the public a steady line of sacred bull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/for-almost-seventy-years-the-life-insurance-industry-has-been-a-smug/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [It is fascinating to watch legislators turn away from their usual corporate grips when they hear the growing thunder of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/it-is-fascinating-to-watch-legislators-turn-away-from-their-usual/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [In 2004 Professor Stephen Farnsworth, when I report saying that I got about five minutes on all the networks after Labor Day to election…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/in-2004-professor-stephen-farnsworth-when-i-report-saying-that-i-got/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Young wives are the leading asset of corporate power. They want the suburbs, a house, a settled life, and respectability. They want society to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/young-wives-are-the-leading-asset-of-corporate-power-they-want-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Moral courage is the highest expression of humanity ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/moral-courage-is-the-highest-expression-of-humanity/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) [Explore all 208 Ralph Nader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) ## More Followers quotes > [Sometimes I look at my awesome twitter followers & think to myself, What the hell would I do without them :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-i-look-at-my-awesome-twitter-followers-think-to-myself-what/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [When I'm on Twitter, we just talk to people. I call all my Twitter followers my 'Twitter babies.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rozonda-thomas/when-i-m-on-twitter-we-just-talk-to-people-i-call-all-my-twitter/) [Rozonda Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rozonda-thomas/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [Followers of the occult believe in only what they already know, and in those things that confirm what they have already learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/followers-of-the-occult-believe-in-only-what-they-already-know-and-in/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [“Everybody goes where everybody goes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vato/everybody-goes-where-everybody-goes/) [Thomas Vato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vato/) > [If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/if-the-civil-magistrate-be-a-christian-a-disciple-or-follower-of-the/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [One advantage to having a kid on the spectrum: they tend to be rule followers. Socially, things are harder for them than most kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-advantage-to-having-a-kid-on-the-spectrum-they-tend-to-be-rule/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts on himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proof-that-a-philosopher-does-not-know-what-he-is-talking-about/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Good leaders must become what they want their followers to become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/good-leaders-must-become-what-they-want-their-followers-to-become/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [There is nothing gray about whether a follower of Christ should see 50 Shades of Grey. This is a black and white issue. Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-nothing-gray-about-whether-a-follower-of-christ-should-see/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [People tell me I am brave. People tell me I am strong. People tell me good job. Well here is the truth of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-davis/people-tell-me-i-am-brave-people-tell-me-i-am-strong-people-tell-me/) [Katie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-davis/) > [Followers want to be taken care of. Leaders want to take care of others. We can all be leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/followers-want-to-be-taken-care-of-leaders-want-to-take-care-of/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [It's important to think of every customer as an online celebrity with followers, friends, & above all influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-kerpen/it-s-important-to-think-of-every-customer-as-an-online-celebrity-with/) [Dave Kerpen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-kerpen/) [Browse all 990 Followers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Nader" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/the-function-of-leadership-is-to-produce-more-leaders-not-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Followers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/the-function-of-leadership-is-to-produce-more-leaders-not-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/ralph-nader-1783_followers_the-function-of-leadership-is-to-produce_3202040.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/ralph-nader-1783_followers_the-function-of-leadership-is-to-produce_3202040.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/ralph-nader-1783_followers_the-function-of-leadership-is-to-produce_3202040.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” — Ralph Nader", "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": "Ralph Nader", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The function of leadership is to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/the-function-of-leadership-is-to-produce-more-leaders-not-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/the-function-of-leadership-is-to-produce-more-leaders-not-more/#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 } } ] } ```