"I don't think that a leader can control, to any great extent, his destiny. Very seldom can he step in and change the situation if the forces of history are running in another direction"
- Richard M. Nixon
About this Quote
This quote by Richard M. Nixon recommends that a leader's destiny is largely out of their control. Nixon indicates that a leader can seldom modify the course of history, even if they try to intervene. He recommends that the forces of history are effective and can often subdue the efforts of a leader. This quote highlights the importance of comprehending the context of a situation and the power of history. It also suggests that a leader should know the restrictions of their power and the capacity of the forces of history. Eventually, Nixon's quote indicates that a leader ought to be humble and accept that they can not constantly control their destiny.
"A lawyer without history or literature is a mechanic, a mere working mason; if he possesses some knowledge of these, he may venture to call himself an architect"
"We have our own history, our own language, our own culture. But our destiny is also tied up with the destinies of other people - history has made us all South Africans"
