Heaven has appointed me to rule all the nations, for hitherto there has been no order upon the steppes.
Interpretation
Genghis Khan asserts his divine right to lead, suggesting the need for order in a chaotic world.
In this quote, Genghis Khan expresses a belief that he was chosen by a higher power to govern all nations, highlighting his sense of destiny and responsibility. His assertion that there has been no order upon the steppes emphasizes the chaos that existed prior to his rise to power, framing his leadership as a necessary and ordained response to this disorder.
In practice
In a speech about establishing a new government, a speaker might quote Genghis Khan to emphasize the importance of leadership in creating order.
Heaven grew weary of the excessive pride and luxury of China... I am from the Barbaric North. I wear the same clothing and eat the same food as the cowherds and horse-herders. We make the same sacrifices and we share.. our riches. I look upon the nation as a new-born child and I care for my soldiers as though they were my brothers.
It is not sufficient that I succeed - all others must fail.
With Heaven's aid I have conquered for you a huge empire. But my life was too short to achieve the conquest of the world. That task is left for you
I hate luxury. I exercise moderation…It will be easy to forget your vision and purpose one you have fine clothes, fast horses and beautiful women. [In which case], you will be no better than a slave, and you will surely lose everything.
An action comitted in anger is an action doomed to failure.
The strength of a wall is neither greater nor less than the courage of the men who defend it.
I think Clinton, after getting into office and into Washington, was shocked at being bludgeoned. So he spent time trying to be all things to all people - one way guaranteed not to be successful or respected in a lion's den. You can't just play around with all those big cats - you've got to take somebody on.
Kings in this world should imitate God, their mercy should be above their works.
One thing I noticed working in the Bronx is that leaders come in the craziest places. They don't always show up at community board meetings. Sometimes it's just the guys on the corner that the boys on the block respect.
My grandmother was kind, but she knew what she wanted and she wasn't afraid to give a command. When, eventually, I ran my own kitchen, I realized I had a leadership model reaching back into my earliest memories.
A leader leads from in front, by the power of example. A ruler pushes from behind, by means of the club, the whip, the power of fear.
Execution is the ability to mesh strategy with reality, align people with goals, and achieve the promised results.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.