--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No leader, however great, can long…" description: "\"No leader, however great, can long continue unless he wins battles. The battle decides all.\" — Vince Lombardi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/vince-lombardi-1357_battle_no-leader-however-great-can-long-continu_1222285.png" --- # No leader, however great, can long continue unless he wins… ![“No leader, however great, can long continue unless he wins battles. The battle decides all.” quote by Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/vince-lombardi-1357_battle_no-leader-however-great-can-long-continu_1222285.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/vince-lombardi-1357_battle_no-leader-however-great-can-long-continu_1222285.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/vince-lombardi-1357_battle_no-leader-however-great-can-long-continu_1222285.png) > “No leader, however great, can long continue unless he wins battles. The battle decides all.” [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A leader must achieve victories; otherwise authority erodes over time. **In simple terms:** Leaders need wins to stay effective. Key Takeaway Secure early successes to maintain influence. Themes leadership victory authority Mood determined serious Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - corporate leadership - military command - sports coaching - political campaigns Key Concepts strategic success military doctrine political power Questions to Reflect On - How do you define a meaningful victory? - What happens when victories are hollow? A Different Perspective Success alone may not guarantee long-term stability without broader support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [A battle sometimes decides everything; and sometimes the most trifling thing decides the fate of a battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-battle-sometimes-decides-everything-and-sometimes-the-most-trifling/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [There are times when a battle decides everything, and there are times when the most insignificant thing can decide the outcome of a battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/there-are-times-when-a-battle-decides-everything-and-there-are-times/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Sometimes a single battle decides everything and sometimes, too, the slightest circumstance decides the issue of a battle. There is a moment in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/sometimes-a-single-battle-decides-everything-and-sometimes-too-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“Don't be a patron of disbelief; nobody fights and wins battles in the hand gloves of doubts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-be-a-patron-of-disbelief-nobody-fights-and-wins-battles-in-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Military power wins battles, but spiritual power wins wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/military-power-wins-battles-but-spiritual-power-wins-wars/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Use your hearts. We’ll give them everything we’ve got—leave it all on the field. You know what wins battles? Desire! Guts! Today, we’ll all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/use-your-hearts-we-ll-give-them-everything-we-ve-got-leave-it-all-on/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [“He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/he-wins-his-battles-by-making-no-mistakes-making-no-mistakes-is-what/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“A leader is great not because of his or her power, but because of his or her ability to empower others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maxwell/a-leader-is-great-not-because-of-his-or-her-power-but-because-of-his/) [John Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maxwell/) > [The difference between a good leader and a great leader is humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/the-difference-between-a-good-leader-and-a-great-leader-is-humility/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [To become a great leader, you have to become a great person first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mly-ab/to-become-a-great-leader-you-have-to-become-a-great-person-first/) MlY AB > [A very good leader is someone who has a great team, it's all about the team. You only have 12 hours or 14 hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mouratoglou/a-very-good-leader-is-someone-who-has-a-great-team-it-s-all-about-the/) [Patrick Mouratoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mouratoglou/) > [What makes a leader great is not the fact that she (or he) has all the answers, but the ability to inspire and empower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/what-makes-a-leader-great-is-not-the-fact-that-she-or-he-has-all-the/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [Lead by listening - to be a good leader you have to be a great listener.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lead-by-listening-to-be-a-good-leader-you-have-to-be-a-great-listener/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-good-leader-inspires-people-to-have-confidence-in-the-leader-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be a great leader, first become a great person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/to-be-a-great-leader-first-become-a-great-person/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) ## More by Vince Lombardi > [Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-a-habit-unfortunately-so-is-losing/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Brains without competitive hearts are rudderless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/brains-without-competitive-hearts-are-rudderless/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. Every job is a self portrait of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/unless-you-try-to-do-something-beyond-what-you-have-already-mastered/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [They do not truly love who do not show their love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/they-do-not-truly-love-who-do-not-show-their-love/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [When you're tired, you rationalize. You make excuses in your mind. You say, "I'm too tired; I'm bushed; I can't do this; I'll loaf."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/when-you-re-tired-you-rationalize-you-make-excuses-in-your-mind-you/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Mental toughness is many things. It is humility because it behooves all of us to remember that simplicity is the sign of greatness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/mental-toughness-is-many-things-it-is-humility-because-it-behooves/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Winning is not the most important thing; it's everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-not-the-most-important-thing-it-s-everything/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [The only true satisfaction a player receives is the satisfaction that comes from being part of a successful team, regardless of his personal accomplishments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-only-true-satisfaction-a-player-receives-is-the-satisfaction-that/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [ \[Football is\] a game that requires the constant conjuring of animosity. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/football-is-a-game-that-requires-the-constant-conjuring-of-animosity/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/i-have-finished-second-twice-in-my-time-at-green-bay-and-i-don-t-ever/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [They call it coaching but it is teaching. You do not just tell them...you show them the reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/they-call-it-coaching-but-it-is-teaching-you-do-not-just-tell-them/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Winning is not everything, but wanting to win is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-not-everything-but-wanting-to-win-is/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [You never win a game unless you beat the guy in front of you. The score on the board doesn't mean a thing. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/you-never-win-a-game-unless-you-beat-the-guy-in-front-of-you-the/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Mental toughness is spartanism with qualities of sacrifice, self-denial, dedication. It is fearlessness, and it is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/mental-toughness-is-spartanism-with-qualities-of-sacrifice-self/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/i-think-you-can-accomplish-anything-if-you-re-willing-to-pay-the-price/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) [Explore all 251 Vince Lombardi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No leader, however great, can long continue unless he wins battles. The battle decides all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vince Lombardi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/no-leader-however-great-can-long-continue-unless-he-wins-battles-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/no-leader-however-great-can-long-continue-unless-he-wins-battles-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/vince-lombardi-1357_battle_no-leader-however-great-can-long-continu_1222285.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/vince-lombardi-1357_battle_no-leader-however-great-can-long-continu_1222285.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/vince-lombardi-1357_battle_no-leader-however-great-can-long-continu_1222285.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No leader, however great, can long continue unless he wins battles. The battle decides all.” — Vince Lombardi", "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": "Vince Lombardi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No leader, however great, can long...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/no-leader-however-great-can-long-continue-unless-he-wins-battles-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/no-leader-however-great-can-long-continue-unless-he-wins-battles-the/#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 } } ] } ```