Abraham Lincoln Quotes on Leadership

The best way to predict your future is to create it.

I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis.

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.

The best leaders are those most interested in surrounding themselves with assistants and associates smarter than they are.

Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.

I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.

The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.

I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.

Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.

The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.

My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.

If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six hours sharpening my axe.

The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.

The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself in every way he can, never suspecting that anybody wishes to hinder him.

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.

Great leaders are willing to sacrifice popularity for principles.

You can have anything you want, if you want it badly enough and are willing to pay the price.

Whatever you are, be a good one.

I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.

I don’t know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.

Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and always stay positive.

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

The ballot is stronger than the bullet.

Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man’s initiative and independence.

When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion.

The most reliable way to predict the future is to create it.

Those who look for the bad in people will surely find it.

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.

I would rather be a little nobody, then to be a evil somebody.

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today.

Don’t swap horses in the middle of the stream.

The people will save their government, if the government itself will allow them.

I hold that while man exists, it is his duty to improve not only his own condition but to assist in ameliorating mankind.

You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.

The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.

When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away, it’s best to let him run.

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.

There is no room for the man of timidity and indecision in leadership. Please note that some of these quotes are paraphrased or slightly modified for creativity.

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