--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think that a leader can control…" description: "\"I don't think that a leader can control, to any great extent, his destiny. Very seldom can he step in and change the situation if the forces of history..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/richard-m-nixon-727_destiny_i-don-t-think-that-a-leader-can-control_2068299.jpg" --- # I don't think that a leader can control, to any great… ![“I don't think that a leader can control, to any great extent, his destiny. Very seldom can he step in and change the situation if the forces of history are running in another direction.” quote by Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/richard-m-nixon-727_destiny_i-don-t-think-that-a-leader-can-control_2068299.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/richard-m-nixon-727_destiny_i-don-t-think-that-a-leader-can-control_2068299.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/richard-m-nixon-727_destiny_i-don-t-think-that-a-leader-can-control_2068299.jpg) > “I don't think that a leader can control, to any great extent, his destiny. Very seldom can he step in and change the situation if the forces of history are running in another direction.” [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders have limited power over destiny; historical forces often dictate outcomes beyond personal control. **In simple terms:** Leaders can't fully control destiny. Key Takeaway Accept limits, influence what you can. Themes leadership destiny history control agency Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political decision‑making - crisis management - organizational change Key Concepts determinism strategic adaptation Questions to Reflect On - What forces shape your environment? - How can you adapt to historical currents? A Different Perspective Leaders can still shape outcomes through adaptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change The Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-situation/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) ## Related quotes > [“We are born with the need for a leader, someone to control the conflict between each individual's need. An alpha in the house, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-mcadam/we-are-born-with-the-need-for-a-leader-someone-to-control-the/) Colin McAdam > [“A leader did not slump. A leader was in control. Even when he least felt like he controlled anything. Especially then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/a-leader-did-not-slump-a-leader-was-in-control-even-when-he-least/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“When you can't change the situation just make your to change that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payal-sharma/when-you-can-t-change-the-situation-just-make-your-to-change-that/) Payal Sharma > [I think every leader must possess vision, and they absolutely have to have a heart of service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-think-every-leader-must-possess-vision-and-they-absolutely-have-to/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [If you think you're a leader and you turn around and no one is following you, then you're simply out for a walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-kouzes/if-you-think-you-re-a-leader-and-you-turn-around-and-no-one-is/) [James M. Kouzes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-kouzes/) > [I think every leader has an obligation - the absolute obligation - to treat everyone fairly. But they also have the obligation to treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/i-think-every-leader-has-an-obligation-the-absolute-obligation-to/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Great leaders get people to think more of themselves, not more of the leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-burwash/great-leaders-get-people-to-think-more-of-themselves-not-more-of-the/) Peter Burwash > [I don't think of myself as a leader. I am, but I don't think of myself that way. I'm not trying to belittle what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-jamison/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-leader-i-am-but-i-don-t-think-of-myself/) [Judith Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-jamison/) > [I think we have to find a leader who reflects all of our concerns and not just some of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-think-we-have-to-find-a-leader-who-reflects-all-of-our-concerns-and/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [I think it's very important, I think for any leader as you go through a career you have to learn the leadership lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-think-it-s-very-important-i-think-for-any-leader-as-you-go-through/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [It's part of my role to push the guys around me to be the best they can be. I think that's part of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tannehill/it-s-part-of-my-role-to-push-the-guys-around-me-to-be-the-best-they/) [Ryan Tannehill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tannehill/) > [“I’ve been labeled before. I’m supposed to be a jock and then a brain and then one of those music/theater people. I guess I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-d-enos/i-ve-been-labeled-before-i-m-supposed-to-be-a-jock-and-then-a-brain/) K.D. Enos > [I do spend really focused time with my wife, my kids, grandkids, and so when I'm doing something or on a golf course, work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-do-spend-really-focused-time-with-my-wife-my-kids-grandkids-and-so/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [I think that a leader is someone that needs to make an impact on, off the cricket field and in their lives as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-gambhir/i-think-that-a-leader-is-someone-that-needs-to-make-an-impact-on-off/) [Gautam Gambhir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-gambhir/) > [I don't subscribe to, 'Here are the top ten tips to successful leadership,' or, 'How to learn leadership in ten minutes.' A leader is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-don-t-subscribe-to-here-are-the-top-ten-tips-to-successful/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) ## More by Richard M. Nixon > [I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is opposed to every instinct in my body. But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-have-never-been-a-quitter-to-leave-office-before-my-term-is/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I have earned every cent. And in all of my years of public life I have never obstructed justice,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-have-earned-every-cent-and-in-all-of-my-years-of-public-life-i-have/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Restoring nature to its natural state is a cause beyond party and beyond factions. It has become a common cause of all the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/restoring-nature-to-its-natural-state-is-a-cause-beyond-party-and/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [What kind of nation we will be, what kind of world we will live in, whether we shape the future in the image of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/what-kind-of-nation-we-will-be-what-kind-of-world-we-will-live-in/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Once you get into this great stream of history you can't get out. You can drown. Or you can be pulled ashore by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/once-you-get-into-this-great-stream-of-history-you-can-t-get-out-you/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The ultimate test of a nation's character is not how it responds to adversity in war but how it meets the challenge of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/the-ultimate-test-of-a-nation-s-character-is-not-how-it-responds-to/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [History is a pathetic junkyard of broken treaties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/history-is-a-pathetic-junkyard-of-broken-treaties/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I refuse to make a decision that somebody else can make. The first rule of leadership is to save yourself for the big decision.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-refuse-to-make-a-decision-that-somebody-else-can-make-the-first/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/those-who-hate-you-don-t-win-unless-you-hate-them-and-then-you/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I made my mistakes, but in all of my years in public life, I have never profited, never profited from public serviceI have earned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-made-my-mistakes-but-in-all-of-my-years-in-public-life-i-have-never/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I know you heard what you thought I said, but what I said isn't what I meant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-know-you-heard-what-you-thought-i-said-but-what-i-said-isn-t-what-i/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I want to be sure...that nothing is done on these veterans. Is that understood?...Is the word out? That they are not to touch em,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-want-to-be-sure-that-nothing-is-done-on-these-veterans-is-that/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [“Nations not possessing great power can indulge in the luxury of criticism of others; those possessing it have the responsibility of decision. Faced with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/nations-not-possessing-great-power-can-indulge-in-the-luxury-of/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The peace we seek in the world is not the flimsy peace which is merely an interlude between wars, but a peace which can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/the-peace-we-seek-in-the-world-is-not-the-flimsy-peace-which-is/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) [Explore all 388 Richard M. Nixon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) ## More Destiny quotes > [... War on the destiny of man! Doom on the sun! Before death takes you, O take back this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-on-the-destiny-of-man-doom-on-the-sun-before-death-takes-you-o/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anatomy is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/anatomy-is-destiny/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [ Man blindly works the will of fate. \[Ger., Blindlings that er blos den Willen des Geschickes.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-martin-wieland/man-blindly-works-the-will-of-fate-ger-blindlings-that-er-blos-den/) [Christoph Martin Wieland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-martin-wieland/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“It's morning now, and I miss the soft rasp of her voice already. Ugh. I'm in trouble, aren't I?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-shand/it-s-morning-now-and-i-miss-the-soft-rasp-of-her-voice-already-ugh-i/) [Pat Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-shand/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [“Failing to meet your true destiny is a tragic act of free will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/failing-to-meet-your-true-destiny-is-a-tragic-act-of-free-will/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [“In that instant it all seemed to come clear to him- it came in a grisly flash of light, and he realized that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-that-instant-it-all-seemed-to-come-clear-to-him-it-came-in-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Destiny is the ordained intention God has sacredly prepared with your name on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-lynch/destiny-is-the-ordained-intention-god-has-sacredly-prepared-with-your/) [John S. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-lynch/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) [Browse all 7,925 Destiny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think that a leader can control, to any great extent, his destiny. 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