We dug around this serious topic and managed to find some leadership quotes that are actually pretty dang funny.
This is a curated sub-category. Check out our full collection of leadership quotes.
Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men — the other 999 follow women.Groucho Marx
First rule of leadership: everything is your fault.A Bug’s Life
Leader. Ship. The word ‘ship’ is hidden in side the word ‘leadership,’ as its… derivation.Michael Scott, The Office
The problem with being a leader is that you’re never sure if you’re being followed or chased.Claire A. Murray
The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who hate me away from those who are still undecided.Casey Stengel
Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.Michael Scott, The Office
Some people say, ‘Never let them see you cry.’ I say, if you’re so mad you could just cry, then cry. It terrifies everyone.Tina Fey
When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.Ronald Reagan
There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.Will Rogers
Sometimes you have to take a break from being the kind of boss that’s always trying to teach people things. Sometimes you just have to be the boss of dancing.Michael Scott, The Office
It is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it… anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.Douglas Adams
In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way.Tina Fey
With great power comes great electricity bill.Unknown
Leadership is being the first egg in the omelet.Jarod Kintz
It is a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you are trying to lead — and find no one there.Franklin Roosevelt
Vision without action is daydream. Action without vision is nightmare.Japanese Proverb
Leadership has been defined as the ability to hide your panic from others.Lao Tzu
It’s hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse.Adlai E. Stevenson II
If you make people think they’re thinking, they’ll love you. If you really make them think, they’ll hate you.Don Marquis
Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t!Margaret Thatcher
Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well.Dwight D. Eisenhower
The question who ought to be boss is like who ought to be the tenor in the quartet? Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.Henry Ford
The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on.Robert Bloch
Don’t waste your energy trying to educate or change opinions; go over, under, through, and opinions will change organically when you’re the boss. Or they won’t. Tina Fey
I would rather be an artist than a leader. Ironically, a leader has to follow the rules.Criss Jami
Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head.Euripides
I am certainly not one of those who need to be prodded. In fact, if anything, I am the prod.Sir Winston Churchill
People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything.Thomas Sowell
In my country we go to prison first and then become President.Nelson Mandela
Man wants to be the king o’ the rabbits, he best wear a pair o’ floppy ears.George R.R. Martin
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.George Carlin
Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.Dwight Eisenhower
For ten years Caesar ruled with an iron hand. Then with a wooden foot, and finally with a piece of string.Spike Milligan
The old adage ‘people are our greatest asset’ is wrong; ‘the right people are your greatest asset’ is more accurate.Jim Collins
I’m a leader not a follower. Unless it’s a dark place, then you are going first.Unknown
