---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Conflicts often stem from a couple of…"
description: "\"Conflicts often stem from a couple of leaders on both sides that are badly brought up. They'd rather go to war than compromise. And in business, you're..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/richard-branson-256_both-sides_conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-le_2196964.jpg"
---

#  Conflicts often stem from a couple of leaders on both…

![“Conflicts often stem from a couple of leaders on both sides that are badly brought up. They'd rather go to war than compromise. And in business, you're competing with other companies all the time, but you don't end up going to war with each other.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/richard-branson-256_both-sides_conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-le_2196964.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/richard-branson-256_both-sides_conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-le_2196964.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/richard-branson-256_both-sides_conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-le_2196964.jpg)

> “Conflicts often stem from a couple of leaders on both sides that are badly brought up. They'd rather go to war than compromise. And in business, you're competing with other companies all the time, but you don't end up going to war with each other.”

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

## About This Quote

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

Leaders' upbringing influences their willingness to compromise, often leading to conflict rather than cooperation.

**In simple terms:** Leaders' backgrounds affect conflict vs. compromise.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address personal biases in leadership.

Themes

leadership conflict compromise business war metaphor

Mood

reflective serious

Type

advice analytical

When to use this quote

- corporate negotiations
- team management
- strategic partnerships
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

psychology organizational behavior communication

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your upbringing shape your conflict style?
- Can you identify a time you chose compromise over confrontation?

A Different Perspective

Leaders may not realize personal history drives their choices.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Both sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both-sides/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Competing Companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing-companies-4808964/) [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Compromise Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise-business-4808962/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Conflicts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicts/) [Conflicts Stem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicts-stem-4808961/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Going to war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-war/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-sides-4808963/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Stem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stem/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [When you have competing companies that are engaging in the raising of prices in lock step with each other, you have to question whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanine-pirro/when-you-have-competing-companies-that-are-engaging-in-the-raising-of/)

[Jeanine Pirro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanine-pirro/)

> [It is my hope that I will be able to work with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle and Gov. Hickenlooper to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-stapleton/it-is-my-hope-that-i-will-be-able-to-work-with-legislative-leaders-on/)

[Walker Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-stapleton/)

> [People rightly want our political leaders - on all sides - to concentrate on minimising the damage to jobs, living standards and our savings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/people-rightly-want-our-political-leaders-on-all-sides-to-concentrate/)

[Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/)

> [The United States played the role of encouraging both sides to come together to try to finally resolve this issue, and we were pleased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-earnest/the-united-states-played-the-role-of-encouraging-both-sides-to-come/)

[Josh Earnest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-earnest/)

> [If you have conflicts, everything breaks down in society. Kids can't go to school. Basic health can't be looked after. Every aspect of society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/if-you-have-conflicts-everything-breaks-down-in-society-kids-can-t-go/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [On conflicts, generally speaking, the world is a hell of a lot better to live in today than it was thirty years ago, despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/on-conflicts-generally-speaking-the-world-is-a-hell-of-a-lot-better/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [We all know about the big world conflicts: Israel and Palestine, Zimbabwe, and so on. But there are smaller conflicts that aren't even on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-all-know-about-the-big-world-conflicts-israel-and-palestine/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [We've all got to do everything we can to avoid conflicts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-ve-all-got-to-do-everything-we-can-to-avoid-conflicts/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [It's odd how those who dismiss the peace movement as utopian, don't hesitate to proffer the most absurdly dreamy reasons for going to war:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-s-odd-how-those-who-dismiss-the-peace-movement-as-utopian-don-t/)

[Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/)

> [Sure, we want to go home. We want this war over with. The quickest way to get it over with is to go get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/sure-we-want-to-go-home-we-want-this-war-over-with-the-quickest-way/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [Going to war accelerated the move from indirect to direct rule. Almost any state that makes war finds that it cannot pay for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tilly/going-to-war-accelerated-the-move-from-indirect-to-direct-rule-almost/)

[Charles Tilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tilly/)

> [This too is a jihad. Yet we Americans find ourselves in the dangerous position of going to war not against a state but against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/this-too-is-a-jihad-yet-we-americans-find-ourselves-in-the-dangerous/)

[Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/)

> [Going to war against Iran - whether one calls such a move 'surgical' or 'total' - would be an extremely serious undertaking; with worldwide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barr/going-to-war-against-iran-whether-one-calls-such-a-move-surgical-or/)

[Bob Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barr/)

> [A lot of people approach their barn or horse like they are going to war, because it's been going badly. So you pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-meehl/a-lot-of-people-approach-their-barn-or-horse-like-they-are-going-to/)

[Cindy Meehl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-meehl/)

> [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/)

[Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/)

## More by Richard Branson

> [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Fantasizing about the future is one of my favorite pastimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/fantasizing-about-the-future-is-one-of-my-favorite-pastimes/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [I will work day and night to avoid failure, but if I can't, I'll pick myself up the next day. The most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-will-work-day-and-night-to-avoid-failure-but-if-i-can-t-i-ll-pick/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Tough times are inevitable in life and in business. But how you compose yourself during those times defines your spirit and will define your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/tough-times-are-inevitable-in-life-and-in-business-but-how-you/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [All successful people - not just entrepreneurs - have got things wrong over and over again before finding the right solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/all-successful-people-not-just-entrepreneurs-have-got-things-wrong/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [We have the enormous opportunity in our hands to make a positive difference for business, people, and the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-have-the-enormous-opportunity-in-our-hands-to-make-a-positive/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [I'm a great believer in life to saying yes and not saying no, and hopefully making people smile and just having fun in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-a-great-believer-in-life-to-saying-yes-and-not-saying-no-and/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Money is a poor indicator of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/money-is-a-poor-indicator-of-success/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Business leaders take things far too seriously, and forget that most of the time people spend in their lives is at work, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/business-leaders-take-things-far-too-seriously-and-forget-that-most/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [I love the freedom of movement that my phone gives me. That has definitely transformed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-love-the-freedom-of-movement-that-my-phone-gives-me-that-has/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Everything in your business can be outsourced... if you're not emotionally attached to doing it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/everything-in-your-business-can-be-outsourced-if-you-re-not/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [People have to decide on priorities if they want to get anywhere. The best lessons I learned was to just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/people-have-to-decide-on-priorities-if-they-want-to-get-anywhere-the/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [There isn't a flight goes by when I don't stare out of the window and thank my stars for what I'm seeing and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/there-isn-t-a-flight-goes-by-when-i-don-t-stare-out-of-the-window-and/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

[Explore all 805 Richard Branson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

## More Both sides quotes

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/some-of-the-folks-on-both-sides-might-be-sincere-but-it-does-seem-as/)

[James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/)

> [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [It's almost inevitable there's going to be an escalation on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-luther/it-s-almost-inevitable-there-s-going-to-be-an-escalation-on-both-sides/)

[Bill Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-luther/)

> [I have yet to see someone attack Obama over his report card. A lot of people I talk to from both sides of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-have-yet-to-see-someone-attack-obama-over-his-report-card-a-lot-of/)

[Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/)

> [I have an office full of product from brands trying to be in videos and an inbox full of songs from artists, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-kluger/i-have-an-office-full-of-product-from-brands-trying-to-be-in-videos/)

[Adam Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-kluger/)

> [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/)

[Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/)

> [When the war ends, it will be found that there was an equal amount of 'thuggery' practiced on both sides, that terrible things were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-jones/when-the-war-ends-it-will-be-found-that-there-was-an-equal-amount-of/)

[Rufus Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-jones/)

> [I find that Americans are all in the middle somewhere, except for the extreme nuts, and extreme nuts on both sides are the loudest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/i-find-that-americans-are-all-in-the-middle-somewhere-except-for-the/)

[Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/)

> [My family was musical on both sides. My father's family had a famous flautist and a classical pianist. My mother won a contest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/my-family-was-musical-on-both-sides-my-father-s-family-had-a-famous/)

[Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/)

> [I come from a long line of saloon keepers and proselytizers, and I draw from both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/i-come-from-a-long-line-of-saloon-keepers-and-proselytizers-and-i/)

[Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/)

> [I usually accept bribes from both sides so that tainted money can never influence my decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-usually-accept-bribes-from-both-sides-so-that-tainted-money-can/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [I really like seeing players like Ousmane Dembele and other players who can take corners from both sides and things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-bellingham/i-really-like-seeing-players-like-ousmane-dembele-and-other-players/)

[Jude Bellingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-bellingham/)

> [I come from both sides of the spectrum: I grew up listening to hip-hop and R&B then learned how to make a track by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lotic/i-come-from-both-sides-of-the-spectrum-i-grew-up-listening-to-hip-hop/)

[Lotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lotic/)

> [ \[Albert Camus\] positions are sensed. So, naturally, those intellectuals who don't have that experience have difficulty in comprehending it. But I think it made… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-camus/albert-camus-positions-are-sensed-so-naturally-those-intellectuals/)

[Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-camus/)

[Browse all 597 Both sides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both-sides/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Conflicts often stem from a couple of leaders on both sides that are badly brought up. They'd rather go to war than compromise. And in business, you're competing with other companies all the time, but you don't end up going to war with each other.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Branson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-leaders-on-both-sides-that-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Both sides"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-leaders-on-both-sides-that-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/richard-branson-256_both-sides_conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-le_2196964.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/richard-branson-256_both-sides_conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-le_2196964.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/richard-branson-256_both-sides_conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-le_2196964.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Conflicts often stem from a couple of leaders on both sides that are badly brought up. They'd rather go to…” — Richard Branson",
                "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": "Richard Branson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Conflicts often stem from a couple...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-leaders-on-both-sides-that-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/conflicts-often-stem-from-a-couple-of-leaders-on-both-sides-that-are/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```