--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The responsibility of leadership is not…" description: "\"The responsibility of leadership is not taken, it is given. Only when others choose to follow us can we truly lead.\" — Simon Sinek" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/simon-sinek-349_given_the-responsibility-of-leadership-is-not_2942500.png" --- # The responsibility of leadership is not taken, it is… ![“The responsibility of leadership is not taken, it is given. Only when others choose to follow us can we truly lead.” quote by Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/simon-sinek-349_given_the-responsibility-of-leadership-is-not_2942500.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/simon-sinek-349_given_the-responsibility-of-leadership-is-not_2942500.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2a/simon-sinek-349_given_the-responsibility-of-leadership-is-not_2942500.png) > “The responsibility of leadership is not taken, it is given. Only when others choose to follow us can we truly lead.” [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership is a responsibility bestowed by followers, not a position taken by oneself. **In simple terms:** Leaders are chosen, not self‑appointed. Key Takeaway Earn trust, then lead. Themes leadership responsibility trust Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team projects - community initiatives - political movements Key Concepts social contract influence Questions to Reflect On - What actions earn you followers? - Can leadership exist without followers? A Different Perspective Leaders must also be accountable, not just followed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [The responsibility of leadership is not to come up with all the ideas but to create an environment in which great ideas can thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/the-responsibility-of-leadership-is-not-to-come-up-with-all-the-ideas/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [A fundamental responsibility of leadership is make sure that everybody knows the mission, understands it, lives it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/a-fundamental-responsibility-of-leadership-is-make-sure-that/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [It is the responsibility of leadership and management to give opportunities and put demands on people which enable them to grow as human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harvey-jones/it-is-the-responsibility-of-leadership-and-management-to-give/) [John Harvey-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harvey-jones/) > [Leadership is not taken, it is given. People give leadership to those that they trust. They allow people that they trust to have influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/leadership-is-not-taken-it-is-given-people-give-leadership-to-those/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [A leader, first and foremost, is human. Only when we have the strength to show our vulnerability can we truly lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/a-leader-first-and-foremost-is-human-only-when-we-have-the-strength/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [I'm sad to report that in the past few years, ever since uncertainty became our insistent 21st century companion, leadership has taken a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/i-m-sad-to-report-that-in-the-past-few-years-ever-since-uncertainty/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [To truly lead one's people, one must also truly know them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/to-truly-lead-one-s-people-one-must-also-truly-know-them/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Many in positions of authority lack the capabilities to truly lead. They are not credible. They do not command genuine respect. They are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/many-in-positions-of-authority-lack-the-capabilities-to-truly-lead/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [One of the recurring themes in Marcus' handbook is leadership's responsibility to work intelligently with what it is given and not waste time fantasizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/one-of-the-recurring-themes-in-marcus-handbook-is-leadership-s/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-choices-we-make-are-ultimately-our-responsibility/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [It is the responsibility of leadership to work intelligently with what is given, and not waste time fantasizing about a world of flawless people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/it-is-the-responsibility-of-leadership-to-work-intelligently-with/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Those with visible responsibility for leadership are nearly always too visible to take responsibility for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/those-with-visible-responsibility-for-leadership-are-nearly-always/) [Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-cleveland/) > [Bipartisanship isn't an option anymore; it is a requirement. The American people have divided responsibility for leadership right down the middle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-daschle/bipartisanship-isn-t-an-option-anymore-it-is-a-requirement-the/) [Tom Daschle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-daschle/) > [“It is not the fault of the baristas working behind the counter. It is the responsibility of the leadership team to keep our culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/it-is-not-the-fault-of-the-baristas-working-behind-the-counter-it-is/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsibility of individuals to contribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pollard/it-is-the-responsibility-of-leadership-to-provide-opportunity-and-the/) [William Pollard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pollard/) ## More by Simon Sinek > [Notoriously outspoken, his sentences always punctuated with profanities, General George S. Patton was the epitome of what a leader should be like - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/notoriously-outspoken-his-sentences-always-punctuated-with/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“When you are with Marines gathering to eat, you will notice that the most junior are served first and the most senior are served…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-you-are-with-marines-gathering-to-eat-you-will-notice-that-the/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [A parent does not do everything for their kid. A parent that does everything for their kid produces a kid with no self-confidence. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/a-parent-does-not-do-everything-for-their-kid-a-parent-that-does/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Don't wait for perfection before you start. Start somewhere so you can have something tangible you can work to perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/don-t-wait-for-perfection-before-you-start-start-somewhere-so-you-can/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [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/) > [“Goethe, the great nineteenth-century thinker, reportedly summed up, “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/goethe-the-great-nineteenth-century-thinker-reportedly-summed-up-you/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Pursue the thing inside us and others will help us. Pursue the things outside us and others will compete with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/pursue-the-thing-inside-us-and-others-will-help-us-pursue-the-things/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“When a WHY goes fuzzy, it becomes much more difficult to maintain the growth, loyalty and inspiration that helped drive the original success. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-a-why-goes-fuzzy-it-becomes-much-more-difficult-to-maintain-the/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“Without the protection of our leaders, everyone outside the inner circle is forced to work alone or in small tribes to protect and advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/without-the-protection-of-our-leaders-everyone-outside-the-inner/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Any great and inspiring leader or organization that ever existed set out to do something completely unrealistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/any-great-and-inspiring-leader-or-organization-that-ever-existed-set/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [I try to find, celebrate and teach leaders how to build platforms that will inspire others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/i-try-to-find-celebrate-and-teach-leaders-how-to-build-platforms-that/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Instead of showing up to let everyone know how great we are, show up to find out how great everyone else is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/instead-of-showing-up-to-let-everyone-know-how-great-we-are-show-up/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Knowledge is understanding based on what has been studied and learned. Wisdom is understanding based on what has been felt and experienced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/knowledge-is-understanding-based-on-what-has-been-studied-and-learned/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [There's only one of me. With you using the why in the center of your work helps me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/there-s-only-one-of-me-with-you-using-the-why-in-the-center-of-your/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“they didn't examine the problem and accumulate data to figure out the best solution - they engineered the outcome they wanted from the beginning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/they-didn-t-examine-the-problem-and-accumulate-data-to-figure-out-the/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) [Explore all 654 Simon Sinek quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) ## More Given quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. 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Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The old charters of Massachusetts, Virginia, and the Carolinas had given title to strips of territory extending from the Atlantic westward to the Pacific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bushnell-hart/the-old-charters-of-massachusetts-virginia-and-the-carolinas-had/) [Albert Bushnell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bushnell-hart/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. 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I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [If life were like a competitive race, some people would be given a flying start and others would line up with weights tied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/if-life-were-like-a-competitive-race-some-people-would-be-given-a/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Music is one of the ways by which you can know everything which is going on in the world. You can feel... through music...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/music-is-one-of-the-ways-by-which-you-can-know-everything-which-is/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [Today, at Harvard, any student with the currently fashionable color of skin is given rights denied to students of the currently unfashionable color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capp/today-at-harvard-any-student-with-the-currently-fashionable-color-of/) [Al Capp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capp/) > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism, tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes, and had their females in common. 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