---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The principle of real leadership ignored…"
description: "\"The principle of real leadership ignored, the immortal objects of society forgotten, practical conservatism degenerated into mere laudation of private ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/russell-kirk-6909_business_the-principle-of-real-leadership-ignored_1023933.jpg"
---

#  The principle of real leadership ignored, the immortal…

![“The principle of real leadership ignored, the immortal objects of society forgotten, practical conservatism degenerated into mere laudation of private enterprise, economic policy almost wholly surrendered to special interests.” quote by Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/russell-kirk-6909_business_the-principle-of-real-leadership-ignored_1023933.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/russell-kirk-6909_business_the-principle-of-real-leadership-ignored_1023933.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/russell-kirk-6909_business_the-principle-of-real-leadership-ignored_1023933.jpg)

> “The principle of real leadership ignored, the immortal objects of society forgotten, practical conservatism degenerated into mere laudation of private enterprise, economic policy almost wholly surrendered to special interests.”

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

## 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 prioritize timeless societal values over narrow private interests, but modern conservatism often merely praises business while neglecting public good.

**In simple terms:** True leadership serves enduring public values, not just private profit.

Key Takeaway

Focus on lasting societal goals.

Themes

leadership public good politics

Mood

critical reflective

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- corporate lobbying
- community service
- public education

Key Concepts

conservatism ethical governance

Questions to Reflect On

- How can leaders balance public duty with economic growth?
- What safeguards prevent private interests from dominating policy?

A Different Perspective

May overlook practical economic needs of individuals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Conservatism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatism/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Economic policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-policy/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Private enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-enterprise/) [Real Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-leaders/) [Special interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-interests/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm sweetly broken, wholly surrendered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-riddle/i-m-sweetly-broken-wholly-surrendered/)

[Jeremy Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-riddle/)

> [We live in a cerebral society, in which we have forgotten how fascinating strength is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrik-baboumian/we-live-in-a-cerebral-society-in-which-we-have-forgotten-how/)

[Patrik Baboumian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrik-baboumian/)

> [Whatever capital you divert to the support of a shiftless and good-for-nothing person is so much diverted from some other employment, and that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/whatever-capital-you-divert-to-the-support-of-a-shiftless-and-good/)

[William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/)

> [ The real leadership of the opposition is never, ever gonna do anything but continue to ramp up efforts to stop \[Donald\] Trump or destroy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-leadership-of-the-opposition-is-never-ever-gonna-do-anything/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [The real leaders of tomorrow are already working on the next big idea, the one that will drive growth into future. They're already far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-enrico/the-real-leaders-of-tomorrow-are-already-working-on-the-next-big-idea/)

[Roger Enrico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-enrico/)

> [The main challenge is technology and that's something I really push and work closely with Adidas on. They're real leaders in sports performance; always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/the-main-challenge-is-technology-and-that-s-something-i-really-push/)

[Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/)

> [There are elites that are real leaders and role models. There are elites that are really selfish and want to pull up the ladder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/there-are-elites-that-are-real-leaders-and-role-models-there-are/)

[Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/)

> [We're up against the conventional thinking that says your ability to lead as president comes from longevity in Washington or proximity to the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-re-up-against-the-conventional-thinking-that-says-your-ability-to/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [“He wrestled with himself, like Jacob . . . like every leader ever to set foot on this earth. It is not faith that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/he-wrestled-with-himself-like-jacob-like-every-leader-ever-to-set/)

[Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/)

> [“We're all great lawyers when blame comes to put but the real leaders take the blame even when it's not theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/we-re-all-great-lawyers-when-blame-comes-to-put-but-the-real-leaders/)

[Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/)

> [It's sort of easy to make a challenge. It's very hard to put the full fate of your government behind the challenge and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-williams/it-s-sort-of-easy-to-make-a-challenge-it-s-very-hard-to-put-the-full/)

[Jody Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-williams/)

> [Anyone can start something new. It takes real leaders to stop something old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anyone-can-start-something-new-it-takes-real-leaders-to-stop/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Only the mediocre die always at their best. Real leaders are always improving - and raising their bar on how superbly they can perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-the-mediocre-die-always-at-their-best-real-leaders-are-always/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [While followers idealize the real, leaders realize the ideal... They outshine with their power of love those whose only motivation is love of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debashis-chatterjee/while-followers-idealize-the-real-leaders-realize-the-ideal-they/)

[Debashis Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debashis-chatterjee/)

> [Real leadership is being the person others will gladly and confidently follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/real-leadership-is-being-the-person-others-will-gladly-and/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

## More by Russell Kirk

> [“Only portions of the globe still enslaved by the enemies of the people refrained from congratulating President Zingu and Premier Villiers-Kolama upon the astounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/only-portions-of-the-globe-still-enslaved-by-the-enemies-of-the/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [“Manfredo -- Your Excellency -- how can you, even you, hope...?" "Life is a jest, and all things show it, my dear," I replied;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/manfredo-your-excellency-how-can-you-even-you-hope-life-is-a-jest-and/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [“Today, as in the past, we ought to remind ourselves that the true natural law is not a mere congeries of appetites, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/today-as-in-the-past-we-ought-to-remind-ourselves-that-the-true/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [Moral decay first hampers and then strangles honest government, regular commerce, and even the ability to take genuine pleasure in the goods of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/moral-decay-first-hampers-and-then-strangles-honest-government/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [ “Men are put into this world, he \[the enlightened conservative\] realizes, to struggle, to suffer, to contend against the evil that is in their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/men-are-put-into-this-world-he-the-enlightened-conservative-realizes/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [Mine was not an Enlightened mind, I now was aware: it was a Gothic mind, medieval in its temper and structure. I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/mine-was-not-an-enlightened-mind-i-now-was-aware-it-was-a-gothic-mind/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [Humility, which Burke ranked high among the virtues, is the only effectual restraint upon this congenital vanity; yet our world has nearly forgotten the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/humility-which-burke-ranked-high-among-the-virtues-is-the-only/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [Rousseau and his disciples were resolved to force men to be free; in most of the world, they triumphed; men are set free from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/rousseau-and-his-disciples-were-resolved-to-force-men-to-be-free-in/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [Politics moves upward into ethics, and ethics ascends to theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/politics-moves-upward-into-ethics-and-ethics-ascends-to-theology/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [If men are discharged of reverence for ancient usage, they will treat this world, almost certainly, as if it were their private property, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/if-men-are-discharged-of-reverence-for-ancient-usage-they-will-treat/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [“The Conservative Mind describes a cast of intellect or a type of character, an inclination to cherish the permanent things in human existence. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-conservative-mind-describes-a-cast-of-intellect-or-a-type-of/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [Privilege, in any society, is the reward of duties performed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/privilege-in-any-society-is-the-reward-of-duties-performed/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [“There are six canons of conservative thought: 1) Belief in a transcendent order, or body of natural law, which rules society as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/there-are-six-canons-of-conservative-thought-1-belief-in-a/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [The Secular City, having legislated and litigated itself out of any entanglement with the City of God, would be a hell upon earth .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-secular-city-having-legislated-and-litigated-itself-out-of-any/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [Why do we not exhaust the heritage of the ages, spiritual and material for our immediate pleasure, and let posterity go hang? So far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/why-do-we-not-exhaust-the-heritage-of-the-ages-spiritual-and-material/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

[Explore all 96 Russell Kirk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“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/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/)

[Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/)

> [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

[Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The principle of real leadership ignored, the immortal objects of society forgotten, practical conservatism degenerated into mere laudation of private enterprise, economic policy almost wholly surrendered to special interests.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Russell Kirk"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-principle-of-real-leadership-ignored-the-immortal-objects-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-principle-of-real-leadership-ignored-the-immortal-objects-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/russell-kirk-6909_business_the-principle-of-real-leadership-ignored_1023933.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/russell-kirk-6909_business_the-principle-of-real-leadership-ignored_1023933.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/russell-kirk-6909_business_the-principle-of-real-leadership-ignored_1023933.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The principle of real leadership ignored, the immortal objects of society forgotten, practical conservatism…” — Russell Kirk",
                "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": "Russell Kirk",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The principle of real leadership ignored,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-principle-of-real-leadership-ignored-the-immortal-objects-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-principle-of-real-leadership-ignored-the-immortal-objects-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```