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Wise guidance never violates people's Free Will. A superior who demands obedience of his subordinates should show respect for their capacity to understand, and also for their Innate Right to their own Free Will.
Paramahansa Yogananda
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Interpretation

What this quote means

True leadership respects the free will of others and encourages understanding rather than blind obedience.

This quote emphasizes the importance of respecting individual autonomy and decision-making in leadership. It suggests that a true leader guides without coercion, valuing the understanding and rights of their subordinates, which fosters a more respectful and effective relationship.

Themes

LeadershipFree WillRespectGuidanceAutonomy

In practice

Example use cases

During a team meeting, use this quote to emphasize the importance of mutual respect in leadership.

More from Paramahansa Yogananda

Man is important in one sense only. He was made in the image of God: That is his importance. He is not important for his body, ego, or personality. His constant affirmation of ego-consciousness is the source of all his problems.
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When, by meditation, we withdraw restless thoughts from the lake of the mind, we behold our soul, a perfect reflection of Spirit.
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It is wisest to be impartial. If you have health, but are attached to it, you will always be afraid of losing it. And if you fear that loss, but become ill, you will suffer. Why not remain forever joyful in the Self?
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From joy people are born; for joy they live; in joy they melt at death. Death is an ecstasy, for it removes the burden of the body and frees the soul of all pain springing from body identification. It is the cessation of pain and sorrow.
Paramahansa YoganandaRead
It is better to meditate a little bit with depth than to mediate long with the mind running here and there. If you do not make an effort to control the mind it will go on doing as it pleases, no matter how long you sit to meditate.
Paramahansa YoganandaRead
Millions of people never analyze themselves. Mentally they are mechanical products of the factory of their environment, preoccupied with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, working and sleeping, and going here and there to be entertained. They don't know what or why they are seeking, nor why they never realize complete happiness and lasting satisfaction. By evading self-analysis, people go on being robots, conditioned by their environment. True self-analysis is the greatest art of progress.
Paramahansa YoganandaRead

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