Famous quote by John Updike

Mobile Desktop
A leader is one who, out of madness or goodness, volunteers to take upon himself the woe of the people.
Like

"A leader is one who, out of madness or goodness, volunteers to take upon himself the woe of the people. There are few men so foolish, hence the erratic quality of leadership in the world"

- John Updike

About this Quote

This quote by John Updike speaks with the problem of discovering real management in the world. It recommends that a leader is someone who is either driven by madness or goodness to take on the suffering of the people. This is a difficult task, and one that couple of people want to take on, which is why there is a lack of consistent and trusted leadership in the world. Updike implies that real management is rare, which it takes a special sort of person to be ready to take on the concern of the people. This quote talks to the significance of finding leaders who are driven by a sense of function and morality, rather than by power or greed.

About the Author

USA Flag This quote is written / told by John Updike between March 18, 1932 and January 27, 2009. He/she was a famous Novelist from USA. The author also have 45 other quotes.

Go to author profile

Similar Quotes

Small: A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: w
Lao Tzu
"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"
Lao Tzu, Author
Small: Buildings should serve people, not the other way around - John Portman
John Portman
"Buildings should serve people, not the other way around"
John Portman, Architect
Small: Borders? I have never seen one. But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people - Thor Heyerdahl
Thor Heyerdahl
"Borders? I have never seen one. But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people"
Thor Heyerdahl, Explorer
Small: Sarcasm: the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and int
Fyodor Dostoevsky
"Sarcasm: the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and intrusively invaded"
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Novelist
Small: People with many interests live, not only longest, but happiest - George Matthew Adams
George Matthew Adams
"People with many interests live, not only longest, but happiest"
George Matthew Adams, Philosopher
Small: One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency - Arnold H
Arnold H. Glasow
"One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency"
Arnold H. Glasow, Businessman
Small: The Oscar changed everything. Better salary, working with better people, better projects, more exposure, less
Kathy Bates
"The Oscar changed everything. Better salary, working with better people, better projects, more exposure, less privacy"
Kathy Bates, Actress
Small: First-rate people hire first-rate people second-rate people hire third-rate people - Leo Rosten
Leo Rosten
"First-rate people hire first-rate people; second-rate people hire third-rate people"
Leo Rosten, Novelist
Small: Ambition is not a vice of little people - Michel de Montaigne
Michel de Montaigne
"Ambition is not a vice of little people"
Michel de Montaigne, Philosopher
Small: You cant get rid of poverty by giving people money - P. J. ORourke
P. J. O'Rourke
"You can't get rid of poverty by giving people money"
P. J. O'Rourke, Journalist