Leadership Wisdom: Two Great Quotes

Stephen R. Covey (2004) provides two quotes in The 8th Habit that made me pause and think. The first, by Gandhi, challenged me to considered my ethical character in every phase of life. The second quote, from Mother Teresa, serves as a source of encouragement in difficult situation and times of rejection and misunderstanding.

Gandhi delineated seven things that will destroy man:
1. Wealth without Work.
2. Pleasure without Conscience
3. Knowledge without Character
4. Commerce without Morality
5. Science without Humanity
6. Worship without Sacrifice
7. Politics without Principle

Notice the ethical values that lace Gandhi's statements - conscience, character, morality, sacrifice, principle. In a day and age in which moral relativism and ethical tolerance is the only politically correct view to hold, how can one be expected to develop any sort of ethical convictions? If my morality differs from my neighbor's what is the common ground for relationship, business, or friendship?

This Gandhi quote underscores for me the absolute necessity of character, integrity, and Christian ethic as the foundation stones of leadership. Without the absolute truth of God's word, leadership can easily destroy the leader and his followers. Jonestown and Waco are sad commentaries on leadership (even spiritual leaders) that were destroyed by a lack of morality and character.

The second quote comes from Mother Teresa:
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered...Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives...Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will find some false friends and some true friends...Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people will cheat you...Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight...Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous...Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow... Do good anyway.
Give the world your best anyway. You see in the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. It's conscience that constantly tells us the value of both end and means and how they are really inseparable.

These thoughts by Mother Teresa echo with deep meaning for me as a former high school principal. Just about every one of these statements expresses a real experience in my educational career. Administrators are often criticized by upset parents, students who do not understand difficult decisions, and faculty that fail to see the big picture of Christian education. Being misunderstood, having to make unpopular decisions, and dealing with difficult people is a common challenge for school principals. Mother Teresa's viewpoint is so comforting and encouraging because it puts the focus in the right place..... on character.... and doing the right thing because it is the right thing.... not for the applause of men or to avoid the criticisms of others.