Laozi Quotes About Leadership
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All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power. If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. If you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them. The Master is above the people, and no one feels oppressed. She goes ahead of the people, and no one feels manipulated. The whole world is grateful to her. Because she competes with no one, no one can compete with her.
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Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.
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Superior leaders get things done with very little motion. They impart instruction not through many words, but through a few deeds. They keep informed about everything but interfere hardly at all. They are catalysts, and though things would not get done as well if they were not there, when they succeed they take no credit. And, because they take no credit, credit never leaves them.
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A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
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The group will not prosper if the leader grabs the lion's share of the credit for the good work that has been done.
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Governing a large country is like frying a small fish. You spoil it with too much poking. Center your country in the Tao and evil will have no power. Not that it isn't there, but you'll be able to step out of its way. Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.
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True words aren't eloquent; eloquent words aren't true. Wise men don't need to prove their point; men who need to prove their point aren't wise. The Master has no possessions. The more he does for others, the happier he is. The more he gives to others, the wealthier he is. The Tao nourishes by not forcing. By not dominating, the Master leads.
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To lead people, walk beside them ... As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people honor and praise. The next, the people fear; and the next, the people hate ... When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves!
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Leadership is your ability to hide your panic from others.
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Go to the people. Learn from them. Live with them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. The best of leaders when the job is done, when the task is accomplished, the people will say we have done it ourselves.
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The ruler attains wholeness in the correct governance of the people.
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The wise leader settles for good work and then lets others have the floor.
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To lead, one must follow.
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[The Master] doesn't glitter like a jewel... [but is] as rugged and common as a stone.
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I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.
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Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish - don't overdo it.
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One who is too insistent on his own views, finds few to agree with him.
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If you fail to honor your people, They will fail to honor you; It is said of a good leader that When the work is done, the aim fulfilled, The people will say, "We did this ourselves."
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To lead people, walk behind them.
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When the effective leader is finished with his work, the people say it happened naturally.
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The leader is a teacher who succeeds without taking credit. And, because credit is not taken, credit is received.
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If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
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When his (the good ruler's) task is accomplished and his work done, The people all say, "It happened to us naturally.
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The best of all rulers is but a shadowy presence to his subjects.
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The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'
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Be the chief but never the lord.
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A good manager is best when people barely know that he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him.
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