Some years ago I became president of Columbia University and learned within 24 hours to be ready to speak at the drop of a hat, and I learned something more, the trustees were expected to be ready to speak at the passing of the hat.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the importance of preparation and being ready to communicate effectively in a leadership role.
In this quote, Dwight D. Eisenhower reflects on his experience as president of Columbia University, emphasizing that effective leaders must be prepared to speak or deliver messages at any moment. The phrase 'speak at the drop of a hat' suggests the necessity for readiness in communication, while the mention of trustees being expected to speak 'at the passing of the hat' underscores the shared responsibility of leaders to engage actively and responsively in their roles.
In practice
During a leadership workshop, I quoted Eisenhower to emphasize the need for agility in communication.
If a man's associates find him guilty of being phony, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose.
The libraries of America are and must ever remain the home of free and inquiring minds. To them, our citizens-of all ages and races, of all creeds and persuasions-must be able to turn with clear confidence that there they can freely seek the whole truth, unvarnished by fashion and uncompromised by expediency.
You don't lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership.
When pressure mounts and strain increases everyone begins to show the weaknesses in his makeup. It is up to the Commander to conceal his: above all to conceal doubt, fear, and distrust.
I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.
I deplore the need or the use of troops anywhere to get American citizens to obey the orders of constituted courts.
Kids learn more from example than from anything you say; I'm convinced they learn very early not to hear anything you say, but to watch what you do.
Without writing, the literate mind would not and could not think as it does, not only when engaged in writing but normally even when it is composing its thoughts in oral form. More than any other single invention writing has transformed human consciousness.
My contention is, first, that we should want more from our educational efforts than adequate academic achievement and, second, that we will not achieve even that meager success unless our children believe that they themselves are cared for and learn to care for others.
The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence.
Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnish'd me From mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.
Education is not filling the mind with a lot of facts. Perfecting the instrument and getting complete mastery of my own mind [is the ideal of education].
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