Journalism still, in a democracy, is the essential force to get the public educated and mobilized to take action on behalf of our ancient ideals.
Doris Kearns GoodwinRead
Obama does seem to have what both FDR and Lincoln had, which is the recognition that you have to hold back at times and then wait to come forward.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Leadership requires patience and strategic timing.
This quote by Doris Kearns Goodwin highlights the essential quality of effective leaders like Obama, FDR, and Lincoln: the ability to exercise restraint and strategically choose the right moment to act. It suggests that true leadership is not just about making decisions quickly, but also about knowing when to wait and how to approach challenges thoughtfully.
Themes
LeadershipPatienceStrategyTimingAction
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a leadership seminar to emphasize the importance of strategic decision-making.
More from Doris Kearns Goodwin
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Once a president gets to the White House, the only audience that is left that really matters is history.
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That is what leadership is all about: staking your ground ahead of where opinion is and convincing people, not simply following the popular opinion of the moment.
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I am a historian. With the exception of being a wife and mother, it is who I am. And there is nothing I take more seriously.
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Those who knew Lincoln described him as an extraordinarily funny man. Humor was an essential aspect of his temperament. He laughed, he explained, so he did not weep.
Doris Kearns GoodwinRead
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