Quotes by William H. McRaven

“A good leader tries to embody the best qualities of his or her organization. A good leader sets the example for others to follow. A good leader always puts the welfare of others before himself or h...”

“If you think for a moment that your McCarthy-era tactics will suppress the voices of criticism, you are sadly mistaken.”

“Unfortunately, over the millennnia there have been men and women who cloaked themselves in honor only to be as unscrupulous and as vile as any humans in history. But true honor- doing the right thi...”

“I often hear that it's hard to know the right thing to do. No, it's not! You always know what's right, but sometimes it's just very hard to do it. It's hard because you may have to admit failure. I...”

“Before you can master any of the other axioms of wisdom, you must first strive to be men and women of honor and integrity. That is what sets the great leaders above the commonplace. It will not be ...”

“1. Be fair and honorable in your business dealings. It's the only way that you and your employees can leave a legacy to be proud of.2. Never lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. The culture...”

“Legend has it that during a conversation with Admiral Bull Halsey, Nimitz confessed his apprehension. The weight of the decision about Midway was overwhelming him. Halsey, blunt as ever, reminded t...”

“Being a leader, whether you are the CEO, the admiral, the general, the chairperson, or the director for an office or two, is difficult. As a leader you must always appear to be in command, even on ...”

“Being a leader is an awesome responsibility. There are days when it can be frightening to know that the fate of the organization rests on your shoulders. But you must also realize that you were cho...”

“The day you longer believe you have something to prove, the day you no longer believe you must give it your all, the day you think you are entitled to special treatment, the day you think all your ...”

“But it doesn't mean that every day has to exhaust you. Being a great leader doesn't mean you have to have superhuman strength. It only means that you have to recognize that it will require effort, ...”

“Paris in the fall is beautiful. The trees along the Champs-Élysées are just turning. The morning is crisp and the aroma of strong coffee and warm French pastries drifts through the air. At night th...”

“Why is there a reluctance to be the face of the solution? Because if you are going to be the face of the solution, it likely means you had a hand in the problem. Good leaders understand that organi...”

“1. Be aggressive. When you see a problem, do something about it. That's what is expected of leaders.2. Move to a place where you can best assess the nature of the problem and provide guidance and r...”

“The Rangers have a Latin saying, Sua Sponte. It means, Of Your Own Accord. In other words, doing what needs to be done, without being told to do so. There is often the misguided belief that soldier...”

“I saw this level of initiative time and again during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps understood that the nature of the fight required the generals and ...”

“1. Foster a culture of action, allowing the rank and file to take the initiative and fix problems that need addressing.2. Accept the fact that this will lead to zealousness and the occasional screw...”