To serve as prime minister while being too mindful of the approval rating is like serving as a prime minister on a roller coaster. What is important, I believe, is that I really act on promises that I make and leave results. Leave a track record and show that to the Japanese public, who will, at the end of the day, I hope, appreciate it.
Interpretation
Being overly focused on public approval can hinder a leader's effectiveness.
Shinzo Abe emphasizes the importance of fulfilling promises and delivering tangible results as a leader, rather than getting distracted by fluctuating approval ratings. He compares the instability of focusing on popularity to the unpredictable nature of a roller coaster, advocating for a steady commitment to service and accountability.
In practice
This quote can be referenced during a political speech to highlight the importance of commitment over popularity.
Human security recognizes the importance of individuals and that the key to ensuring growth in developing countries is to foster individual talent and abilities, build self-reliance, and put people in a position to make a broader contribution to society. Growth must be inclusive, and no one must be left behind.
On the question of comfort women, when my thought goes to these people, who have been victimized by human trafficking and gone through immeasurable pain and suffering beyond description, my heart aches. And on this point, my thought has not changed at all from previous prime ministers.
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I have to express sympathy from the bottom of my heart to those people who were taken as wartime comfort women. As a human being, I would like to express my sympathies, and also as prime minister of Japan I need to apologize to them.
A good commander is benevolent and unconcerned with fame.
Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq's future is not.
If it is not possible for me to go somewhere and to be willing to encounter people with different views, then I'm really not doing my job.
Never ask anyone to do what you haven't done before and wouldn't do again. That's a pretty fundamental rule in leadership... treat them like you treat yourself. Things you don't like, they don't like.
It is time for a new generation of leadership.
Pilots learn to use human skills to communicate information and make decisions collectively, which creates a shared sense of responsibility among the team for better outcomes.
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