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The President hears a hundred voices telling him that he is the greatest man in the world. He must listen carefully indeed to hear the one voice that tells him his is not.
Harry S. Truman
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Interpretation

What this quote means

True leadership requires humility and the ability to acknowledge criticism amidst praise.

This quote highlights the importance of self-awareness and humility in leadership. While a leader, like a president, may receive constant praise, it is essential to pay attention to critical voices that provide valuable feedback. This balance allows leaders to maintain perspective and serve their responsibilities effectively, reminding them that not all feedback will be flattering, but it is crucial for growth and decision-making.

Themes

LeadershipSelf-AwarenessHumilityCriticismPerspective

In practice

Example use cases

In a leadership workshop, to emphasize the need for humility, I shared this quote by Harry S. Truman.

More from Harry S. Truman

May the sun never set on American baseball.
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Having found the bomb we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans.
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Herbert Hoover once ran on the slogan, 'Two cars in every garage'. Apparently, the Republican candidate this year is running on the slogan, 'Two families in every garage'.
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The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.
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I never would have agreed to the formulation of the Central Intelligence Agency back in forty-seven, if I had known it would become the American Gestapo.
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I would rather have peace in the world than be President.
Harry S. TrumanRead

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