Business Quote by William Reynolds
““I had not then learned the philosophy which teaches that he who would attempt enterprises of great command, must begin his government by laying its foundations in his own breast, in control of his own passions & that he who would survey the world must first sound the depth & shallows of his own character.””
About This Quote
Effective leadership begins with self‑mastery; one must understand personal passions before governing others.
In simple terms: Know yourself before leading others.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate self‑discipline first.
Themes
leadership
self‑knowledge
governance
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- entrepreneurship
- personal development
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal passions limit your decisions?
- How can you align inner values with external actions?
A Different Perspective
Self‑knowledge alone may not guarantee external success.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)