And enough for me that when my hand touched your shoulder, you leaned on me; and when you felt me slip away, you called my name.
Orson Scott CardRead
He walked down the corridor, lined with his soldiers, who looked at him with love, with awe, with trust. Except Bean, who looked at him with anguish. Ender Wiggin was not larger than life, Bean knew. He was exactly life-sized, and so his larger-than-life burden was too much for him. And yet he was bearing it. So far.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote illustrates the weight of leadership and the perception of a leader by their followers.
In this quote, the author examines the complexities of leadership through the character Ender Wiggin, who is viewed by his soldiers with admiration and trust, signifying the expectations placed on leaders. However, the character Bean's perception of Ender reveals that true leadership involves personal struggles and burdens that may not be visible to others, emphasizing that while leaders may seem extraordinary, they are fundamentally human and must often confront overwhelming responsibilities.
Themes
LeadershipBurdenTrustLifeResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on leadership, you might use this quote to highlight the challenges leaders face.
More from Orson Scott Card
All quotes →The world is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
Orson Scott CardRead
Never mind that the story had turned out to be lies and foolishness—there was always folks stupid enough to say, Where there's smoke there's fire, when the saying should have been, Where there's scandalous lies there's always malicious believers and spreaders-around, regardless of evidence.
Orson Scott CardRead
The lives of all people flow through time, and, regardless of how brutal one moment may be, how filled with grief or pain or fear, time flows through all lives equally.
Orson Scott CardRead
You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind.
Orson Scott CardRead
I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss.
Orson Scott CardRead
Similar quotes
There are so many intelligent former black players, guys like Luther Blissett and Cyrille Regis, who never got a chance to become a top manager or a top coach because of the perception that surrounds people who look like them. They are black - which, for many, means they are good athletes but incapable of being anything above and beyond that.
John BarnesRead
I propose not our enemies as an example for our general imitation, yet, as their navy is the best regulated of any in the world, we must, in some degree, imitate them and aim at such farther improvement as may one day make ours vie with - and exceed - theirs.
John Paul JonesRead
Suge is the boss of Death Row, the don, you understand? But im the underboss, the capo. That's my job to what's best for Death Row
Tupac ShakurRead
Most leadership strategies are doomed to failure from the outset.
Peter SengeRead
First organize the inner, then organize the outer ... First organize the great, then organize the small. First organize yourself, and then organize others.
Zhuge LiangRead
The ability to change one's views without losing one's seat is the mark of a great politician.
Mo UdallRead