Body Quote by Walt Whitman
“I say no body of men are fit to make Presidents, judges and generals, unless they themselves supply the best specimens of the same; and that supplying one or two such specimens illuminates the whole body for a thousand years.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Democracy and Leadership, Walt Whitman, 1865
Only the finest individuals should lead; their excellence illuminates society for generations.
In simple terms: Great leaders uplift society.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate excellence to lead effectively.
Themes
leadership
excellence
legacy
Mood
reflective
idealistic
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political office
- judicial appointments
- military command
- corporate leadership
- community activism
Key Concepts
political theory
ethics
social influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How define “best” leaders?
- Can diverse leadership thrive?
A Different Perspective
Excellence is subjective and exclusive.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
