--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are elites that are real leaders…" description: "\"There are elites that are real leaders and role models. There are elites that are really selfish and want to pull up the ladder once they've reached th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/thomas-friedman-1784_elites_there-are-elites-that-are-real-leaders-a_483963.png" --- # There are elites that are real leaders and role models… ![“There are elites that are real leaders and role models. There are elites that are really selfish and want to pull up the ladder once they've reached the roof.” quote by Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/thomas-friedman-1784_elites_there-are-elites-that-are-real-leaders-a_483963.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/thomas-friedman-1784_elites_there-are-elites-that-are-real-leaders-a_483963.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/thomas-friedman-1784_elites_there-are-elites-that-are-real-leaders-a_483963.png) > “There are elites that are real leaders and role models. There are elites that are really selfish and want to pull up the ladder once they've reached the roof.” [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Some elite individuals lead responsibly and inspire, while others become selfish, hindering others after achieving success. **In simple terms:** Leaders can be noble or selfish after success. Key Takeaway Recognize and support true leaders, challenge selfish elites. Themes leadership ethics power dynamics social responsibility Mood cautious critical reflective Type analytical observational When to use this quote - corporate culture - political leadership - community activism - mentorship Key Concepts hierarchy self-interest role modeling Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate genuine leaders from self-serving elites? - What actions can curb selfish behavior among the powerful? A Different Perspective Selfish elites can undermine collective progress and trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [Elites Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites-real-4155420/) [Elites Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites-really-4155419/) [Ladders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladders/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/models/) [Models Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/models-elites-4155421/) [Pull ups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pull-ups/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-leaders/) [Role models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-models/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Roof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roof/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [When you get on the boat that's saving you, don't pull up the ladder behind you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-clarkson/when-you-get-on-the-boat-that-s-saving-you-don-t-pull-up-the-ladder/) [Adrienne Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-clarkson/) > [Real leaders have to live a paradoxical life, where they must break the rules in order to maintain them. If your expectations are high,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-willimon/real-leaders-have-to-live-a-paradoxical-life-where-they-must-break/) [Beau Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-willimon/) > [“Normal kids are turned into Borribles very slowly, almost without being aware of it; but one day they wake up and there it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-de-larrabeiti/normal-kids-are-turned-into-borribles-very-slowly-almost-without/) [Michael De Larrabeiti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-de-larrabeiti/) > [By leadership, I mean taking complete responsibility for an organization's well-being and growth, and changing it for the better. Real leadership is not about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-l-joss/by-leadership-i-mean-taking-complete-responsibility-for-an/) [Robert L. 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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/) > [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/) > [ 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/) ## More by Thomas Friedman > [I'm pretty much an open book. I am a fanatic golfer and golf nut. If I have three free hours any day, my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-m-pretty-much-an-open-book-i-am-a-fanatic-golfer-and-golf-nut-if-i/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [The financial crisis just made the hole deeper, which is why our stimulus needs to be both big and smart, both financially and educationally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/the-financial-crisis-just-made-the-hole-deeper-which-is-why-our/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Many jobs at Google require math, computing, and coding skills, so if your good grades truly reflect skills in those areas that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/many-jobs-at-google-require-math-computing-and-coding-skills-so-if/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Never before in the history of the planet have so many people, on their own, had the ability to find so much information about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/never-before-in-the-history-of-the-planet-have-so-many-people-on/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [When I was growing up, my parents told me, 'Finish your dinner. People in China and India are starving.' 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I think it was just the opposite, in fact. I think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-don-t-think-the-arab-spring-had-much-to-do-with-energy-i-think-it/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Until we fully understand what turned two brothers who allegedly perpetrated the Boston Marathon bombings into murderers, it is hard to make any policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/until-we-fully-understand-what-turned-two-brothers-who-allegedly/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Geopolitics is all about leverage. We cannot make ourselves safer abroad unless we change our behavior at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/geopolitics-is-all-about-leverage-we-cannot-make-ourselves-safer/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Big breakthroughs happen when what is suddenly possible meets what is desperately needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/big-breakthroughs-happen-when-what-is-suddenly-possible-meets-what-is/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [That's right-the striking thing about greenhouse gases is the diversity of sources that emit them. 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Then as now, all elite opinion was against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/the-idea-of-a-bowed-and-terrified-liberal-minority-during-mccarthy-s/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [This is the culmination of a lot of people's vision. I think this is just another step towards making Central Michigan football among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/this-is-the-culmination-of-a-lot-of-people-s-vision-i-think-this-is/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [The majority of Arab people would side with Russia and China, not with the West. And they'd throw their 'elites' groomed in and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/the-majority-of-arab-people-would-side-with-russia-and-china-not-with/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [Above all, the listener should be able to understand the poem or the song, not be forced to unravel a complicated, self-indulgent puzzle. Offer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-williams/above-all-the-listener-should-be-able-to-understand-the-poem-or-the/) [Lucinda Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-williams/) > [The anger I felt when the ACLU tried to disenfranchise me because my religious stayed with me. These are dangerous people who make dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hyde/the-anger-i-felt-when-the-aclu-tried-to-disenfranchise-me-because-my/) [Henry Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hyde/) > [The behavior and reactions of the oppressed, which lead the oppressor to practice cultural invasion, should evoke from the revolutionary a different theory of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/the-behavior-and-reactions-of-the-oppressed-which-lead-the-oppressor/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [I pretend no originality in observing that mass education was motivated in part by the perceived need to "educate them to keep them from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-pretend-no-originality-in-observing-that-mass-education-was/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Dependency arguments often come from elites - either aid agencies or governments - and say something about attitudes to poor people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harvey/dependency-arguments-often-come-from-elites-either-aid-agencies-or/) [Paul Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harvey/) > [Professional football's a tough game. 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