Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.
ChanakyaRead
The king shall singly deliberate over secret matters; for ministers have their own ministers, and these latter some of their own; this kind of successive line of ministers tends to the disclosure of counsels.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Smart leaders make decisions privately, as too many advisors can lead to leaks and betrayals.
This quote by Chanakya emphasizes the importance of discretion and careful decision-making in leadership. It highlights that when too many people are involved in a sensitive matter, the chances of information being leaked or distorted increase significantly. A wise leader should therefore keep critical deliberations confined to themselves to maintain secrecy and integrity in their decision-making process.
Themes
LeadershipDiscretionDecision MakingSecrecyCounsel
In practice
Example use cases
During a leadership workshop, this quote can be used to emphasize the importance of maintaining confidentiality in decision-making.
More from Chanakya
All quotes →Let not a single day pass without your learning a verse, half a verse, or a fourth of it, or even one letter of it; nor without attending to charity, study and other pious activity.
ChanakyaRead
The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end, nor protects it from the bites of insects.
ChanakyaRead
The serpent, the king, the tiger, the stinging wasp, the small child, the dog owned by other people, and the fool: these seven ought not to be awakened from sleep.
ChanakyaRead
Whoever imposes severe punishment becomes repulsive to the people; while he who awards mild punishment becomes contemptible. But whoever imposes punishment as deserved becomes respectable.
ChanakyaRead
One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the possession of others, can use neither his knowledge nor wealth when the need for them arises.
ChanakyaRead
Similar quotes
We create a standard for how we want to do things, and everybody's got to buy into that standard or you really can't have any team chemistry.
Nick SabanRead
Human affairs require some combination of moral commitment with disciplined political action. And that is what keeps me intrigued and challenged and wanting to influence events.
Zbigniew BrzezinskiRead
Strategy equals execution. All the great ideas and visions in the world are worthless if they can't be implemented rapidly and efficiently. Good leaders delegate and empower others liberally, but they pay attention to details, every day.
Colin PowellRead
What leaders have to remember is that somewhere under the somnolent surface is the creature that builds civilizations, the dreamer of dreams, the risk taker. And remembering that, the leader must reach down to the springs that never dry up, the ever-fresh springs of the human spirit.
John W. GardnerRead
The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot.
Bill RussellRead
If a Pope clearly realizes that he is no longer physically, psychologically, and spiritually capable of handling the duties of his office, then he has a right and, under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign.
Pope Benedict XviRead