--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is…" description: "\"That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.\" — Warren G. Bennis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/warren-g-bennis-3361_being-a-leader_that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is_95067.png" --- # That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders… ![“That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.” quote by Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/warren-g-bennis-3361_being-a-leader_that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is_95067.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/warren-g-bennis-3361_being-a-leader_that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is_95067.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/warren-g-bennis-3361_being-a-leader_that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is_95067.png) > “That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.” [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## 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 cultivated through experience and learning, not an innate trait; it can be taught and developed. **In simple terms:** Leadership is learned, not innate. Key Takeaway Leaders are made. Themes leadership development growth mindset skill acquisition education Mood inspired empowering pragmatic Type educational motivational When to use this quote - corporate training - political activism - community organizing Key Concepts mentorship continuous learning Practical Applications - leadership workshops - coaching programs Questions to Reflect On - What practices best develop leadership skills? - How can organizations nurture future leaders? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being a leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-leader/) [Best leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-leader/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Born leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-leaders/) [Charismatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charismatic/) [Fact Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact-opposite-1169970/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Funny leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-leadership/) [Future leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-leaders/) [Great leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leader/) [Inspiring leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring-leader/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-born-312128/) [Leaders motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-motivational/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership and change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-and-change/) [Leadership by famous leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-by-famous-leaders/) [Leadership development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-development/) [Leadership vs management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-vs-management/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Motivational leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-leadership/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Nonsense Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense-fact-1169972/) [Opposite True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite-true-343812/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Sales leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sales-leadership/) [True leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-leader/) [True Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-leaders-365414/) [True leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-leadership/) [World leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-leader/) ## Related quotes > [The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/leadership-is-lifting-a-person-s-vision-to-high-sights-the-raising-of/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/in-periods-where-there-is-no-leadership-society-stands-still/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [The building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-building-of-a-personality-beyond-its-normal-limitations/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [A leader is best when people barely know that he exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witter-bynner/a-leader-is-best-when-people-barely-know-that-he-exists/) [Witter Bynner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witter-bynner/) > [Leaders aren't born they are made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/leaders-aren-t-born-they-are-made/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-hesburgh/you-can-t-blow-an-uncertain-trumpet/) [Theodore Hesburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-hesburgh/) > [Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/become-the-kind-of-leader-that-people-would-follow-voluntarily-even/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [A new leader has to be able to change an organization that is dreamless, soulless and visionless ... someone's got to make a wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/a-new-leader-has-to-be-able-to-change-an-organization-that-is/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If you don't change direction, you end up where you are headed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gibbons/if-you-don-t-change-direction-you-end-up-where-you-are-headed/) [John Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gibbons/) > [Learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/learners-inherit-the-earth-while-the-learned-find-themselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [In times of change, learners inherit the earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/in-times-of-change-learners-inherit-the-earth/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [We're trained to see the world in terms of charismatic organizations and charismatic people. That's who we look to for leadership and change, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/we-re-trained-to-see-the-world-in-terms-of-charismatic-organizations/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [There is an inexorable correlation between leadership and change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/there-is-an-inexorable-correlation-between-leadership-and-change/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [We have a Marlboro Man Theory of leadership and change, especially in America, but in fact anything great that's accomplished is accomplished by many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-morgan/we-have-a-marlboro-man-theory-of-leadership-and-change-especially-in/) [Nick Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-morgan/) ## More by Warren G. Bennis > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Great groups deliver great results. And for everyone involved in a great group, great work is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/great-groups-deliver-great-results-and-for-everyone-involved-in-a/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Leadership is like beauty - it's hard to define but you know it when you see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/leadership-is-like-beauty-it-s-hard-to-define-but-you-know-it-when/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Coaching will become the model for leaders in the future... I am certain that leadership can be learned and that terrific coaches... facilitate learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/coaching-will-become-the-model-for-leaders-in-the-future-i-am-certain/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Servant leadership teaches us that you have to lay your cards on the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/servant-leadership-teaches-us-that-you-have-to-lay-your-cards-on-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Recognize and respect mutual self-interests, then build creative collaborations to serve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/recognize-and-respect-mutual-self-interests-then-build-creative/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If great teams don't have an "enemy," they create one for themselves because, as former Coca-Cola CEO Roberto Goizueta pointed out, "you can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/if-great-teams-don-t-have-an-enemy-they-create-one-for-themselves/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [All great leaders constantly seek new information and new ways of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/all-great-leaders-constantly-seek-new-information-and-new-ways-of/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Trust is difficult to define, but we know when it's present and when it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/trust-is-difficult-to-define-but-we-know-when-it-s-present-and-when/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Around the world, the generals are being ousted, and the poets are taking charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/around-the-world-the-generals-are-being-ousted-and-the-poets-are/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [A passion for continual learning, a refined, discerning ear for the moral and ethical consequences of their actions, and an understanding of the purposes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/a-passion-for-continual-learning-a-refined-discerning-ear-for-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [The failure to find the right niche for people - or to let them find their own perfect niches - is a major reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-failure-to-find-the-right-niche-for-people-or-to-let-them-find/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Effective leaders make a full commitment to be a learner, to keep increasing and nourishing their knowledge and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/effective-leaders-make-a-full-commitment-to-be-a-learner-to-keep/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Encourage reflective backtalk: Leaders know the importance of having someone in their lives who will unfailingly and fearlessly tell them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/encourage-reflective-backtalk-leaders-know-the-importance-of-having/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Leaders learn by leading, and they learn bestby leading in the face of obstacles. As weather shapes mountains, problems shape leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/leaders-learn-by-leading-and-they-learn-bestby-leading-in-the-face-of/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) [Explore all 132 Warren G. Bennis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## More Being a leader quotes > [A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/a-good-general-not-only-sees-the-way-to-victory-he-also-knows-when/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [I think there is a big and significant difference between being a leader and being a manager-leaders lead from the heart. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jung/i-think-there-is-a-big-and-significant-difference-between-being-a/) [Andrea Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jung/) > [I never thought in terms of being a leader. I thought very simply in terms of helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/i-never-thought-in-terms-of-being-a-leader-i-thought-very-simply-in/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [Being consistent meant not departing from convictions already formulated; being a leader meant making other persons accept these convictions. It was a narrow track,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessamyn-west/being-consistent-meant-not-departing-from-convictions-already/) [Jessamyn West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessamyn-west/) > [My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-law-montgomery/my-own-definition-of-leadership-is-this-the-capacity-and-the-will-to/) [Bernard Law Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-law-montgomery/) > [He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/he-who-has-never-learned-to-obey-cannot-be-a-good-commander/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Leadership is possible in all different ways, and in all different areas of life. Whether it is with friends or family, I expect them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/leadership-is-possible-in-all-different-ways-and-in-all-different/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [A leader leads by example not by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/a-leader-leads-by-example-not-by-force/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/management-is-efficiency-in-climbing-the-ladder-of-success/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [It is the solemn obligation of a leader always to be a leader. Even when - perhaps especially when - you don't feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-owens/it-is-the-solemn-obligation-of-a-leader-always-to-be-a-leader-even/) [Bill Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-owens/) > [Being a leader is making the people you love hate you a little more each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/being-a-leader-is-making-the-people-you-love-hate-you-a-little-more/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Be strong, but not rude; Be kind, but not weak; Be bold, but not bully; Be humble, but not timid; Be prooud, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/be-strong-but-not-rude-be-kind-but-not-weak-be-bold-but-not-bully-be/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Somebody has to take responsibility for being a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/somebody-has-to-take-responsibility-for-being-a-leader/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Whether it is with friends or family, I expect them to set a great example for me, and hopefully I will do the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/whether-it-is-with-friends-or-family-i-expect-them-to-set-a-great/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [Jesse Owens had to be a very strong person. There were a lot of protests, but I think that he knew, despite the pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/jesse-owens-had-to-be-a-very-strong-person-there-were-a-lot-of/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) [Browse all 82 Being a leader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-leader/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren G. 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