Leadership Quote by Stephen Covey
““The unexamined life is not worth living,’ observed Plato. But the number of people who come out of our leadership development programs saying ‘I haven’t thought that deeply in years!’ is astonishing. As human beings, we’re trying—sometimes with disastrous results—to run businesses, raise our children, teach our students, be involved in relationships without giving serious and careful consideration to the roots out of which the fruits in our lives are growing.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, 1989
Plato’s warning about unexamined lives is linked to modern leaders lacking deep self‑reflection, leading to poor decisions in work and relationships.
In simple terms: Not thinking deeply harms our choices.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate regular self‑examination.
Themes
self‑awareness
leadership
critical thinking
personal growth
decision making
Mood
thoughtful
motivational
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- leadership training
- parenting
- education
- relationship counseling
- career planning
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
organizational behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- What areas of your life need deeper questioning?
- How can you embed reflection into daily routines?
A Different Perspective
Self‑reflection can be uncomfortable and time‑consuming.
