If you fear making anyone mad, then you ultimately probe for the lowest common denominator of human achievement.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Seeking to avoid anger lowers the quality of leadership and achievement.
- In plain terms
- Trying not to upset anyone leads to mediocre results.
- What can you take from it?
- Leadership requires risking disapproval for better outcomes.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What risks are worth taking?
- How do you handle criticism?
Another view
Diplomacy sometimes requires avoiding unnecessary offense.
More from Jimmy Carter
I personally feel the Bible says all people are equal in the eyes of God. I personally feel that women should play an absolutely equal role in service of Chris…
Permalink to quote #37 If you're totally illiterate and living on one dollar a day, the benefits of globalization never come to you.
Permalink to quote #39 I look forward to these confrontations with the press to kind of balance up the nice and pleasant things that come to me as president.
Permalink to quote #36
Related quotes
In order to achieve anything, you must be brave enough to fail.
Kirk DouglasKirk Douglas quote #1 Let the man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim. Attacking is his only secret. Dare, and the world always yields: or, if it beat you someti…
William Makepeace ThackerayWilliam Makepeace Thackeray quote #1 Fortune favours the brave:
Pliny the ElderPliny the Elder quote #1