Quotes to Help You Rethink Courageous Leadership

For me, Martin Luther King is synonymous with courage. In particular, we may think of his seminal moment addressing a crowd of 250,000 people from the Lincoln Memorial on a hot August day in 1963. But a moment like that was the culmination of a thousand smaller acts of bravery that came before it. Imagine the first time Dr. King had to step forward, look directly into the eyes of an adversary and say, “I will not back down.” Strong leaders know that daily acts of showing up, and revealing your thoughts, ideals and principles, are what’s most important.

Here are some quotes from Martin Luther King and other leaders which I hope will inspire you to embrace and show small acts of courage and leadership every day.

Remember leadership isn't a role or title, it's an attitude and choice. Please feel free to share as I am on a mission to build more courageous leaders and leadership.

1. Martin Luther King - Stand for your own principles and support others.

“Courage faces fear and thereby masters it. Cowardice represses fear and is thereby mastered by it. Courageous men never lose the zest for living even through their life situation is zestless; cowardly men, overwhelmed by the uncertainties of life, lose the will to live. We must constantly build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.”

“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbour will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others.”

“Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles;

Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances.

Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it.

Cowardice asks the question, is it safe?

Expediency asks the question, is it politic?

Vanity asks the question, is it popular?

But conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.”

2. Winston Churchill - Have the courage to fail

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

“Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”

3. Eleanor Roosevelt - Courage is fear and show up fully as a leader

“Do one thing every day that scares you.”

“Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.”

4. Mahatma Gandhi - Sometimes not doing what’s expected or following the crowd is an act of courage. 

“It's easy to stand in the crowd but it takes courage to stand alone.”

5. Harvey Milk - Simply asking for what you want can be one of the boldest acts of courage.

“Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard.”

6. Walt Disney - Leaders demonstrating courage not only realise their own dreams, but help make other’s dreams seem possible.

“Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion no matter where it is exercised.”

7. Abraham Lincoln - Courage is about resilience and perseverance and overcoming adversities

“It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong.”

8. Rosa Parks - Standing up for what you believe in

"I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

Do you have any other quotes or leaders that espouse courage?

About the Author

Sonia McDonald is one of the Globe's Leading Keynote Speakers on Leadership, Courage and Kindness. Keynote speaker, award winning writer and author, workshop facilitator and leadership coach with one on one and online programs. Working with event managers, organisations, teams and individuals to develop authentic and courageous leaders who inspire and bring out the best in others.

For more than 25 years, Sonia has been on the front lines of leadership. She has held leadership positions worldwide and through experience, research and study come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader.

Sonia has an ability to speak bravely and authentically about her own development as a leader, personal and career challenges in a way which resonates with her audience.

She is an award-winning published author and writes regularly for publications such as The Australian, HRD Magazine, Smart Healthy Women and Women’s Business Media. Sonia has become recognised for her commentary around the topic of leadership, kindness and courage.

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