I beg you take courage; the brave soul can mend even disaster.
Catherine The GreatRead
I may be kindly, I am ordinarily gentle, but in my line of business I am obliged to will terribly what I will at all.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the duality of kindness and the necessity of making tough decisions in leadership roles.
Catherine The Great's quote highlights the complex nature of leadership where one can embody kindness and gentleness yet must also confront the harsh realities that come with responsibility. It illustrates the balance leaders must find between being compassionate and being decisive, emphasizing that effective leadership sometimes requires making difficult choices that may seem cruel but are necessary for the greater good.
In practice
During a leadership conference, this quote can be used to discuss how to balance compassion with the need for tough decisions.
I beg you take courage; the brave soul can mend even disaster.
I praise loudly. I blame softly.
In politics a capable ruler must be guided by circumstances, conjectures and conjunctions.
A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.
I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.
Happiness and unhappiness are in the heart and spirit of each one of us: If you feel unhappy, then place yourself above that and act so that your happiness does not get to be dependent on anything.
If you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases observe it.
The true price of leadership is the willingness to place the needs of others above your own. Great leaders truly care about those they are privileged to lead and understand that the true cost of the leadership privilege comes at the expense of self-interest.
To some generations much is given. Of other generations, much is expected.
I knew that our community needed a very clear voice. and I think we deserved representation that rejected lobbyist funds and put our voters and our community first.
When it was reported to General Washington that the army was frequently indulging in swearing, he immediately sent out the following order: The general is sorry to be informed that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing - a vice little known heretofore in the American army - is growing into fashion. Let the men and officers reflect "that we can not hope for the blessing of heaven on our army if we insult it by our impiety and folly."
It is time that all Americans realized that the place of labor is side by side with the businessman and with the farmer, and not one-degree lower.
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