Skip to content

21 Great Leadership Quotes from Movies

Movies are packed with great leadership quotes: here’s a selection of my favourites.

Got any favourites of your own? Please feel free to add them in the comments…

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends.”  Professor Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

“Attitude reflect leadership, captain”  Julius Campbell, Remember the Titans

“There’s a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it.”  William Wallace, Braveheart

“Now tell me, what does that mean – to be noble? Your title gives you claim to the throne of our country, but men don’t follow titles, they follow courage.”  William Wallace, Braveheart

“I’m not looking for the best players, I’m looking for the right ones.”  Herb Brooks, Miracle

“Your father was captain of a starship for 12 minutes. He saved 800 lives, including your mother’s, and yours. I dare you to do better.”  Captain Pike, Star Trek

“Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.”  Nelson Mandela, Invictus

“How do we get them to be better then they think they can be? That is very difficult, I find. Inspiration, perhaps. How do we inspire ourselves to greatness when nothing less will do? How do we inspire everyone around us? I sometimes think it is by using the work of others.”  Nelson Mandela, Invictus

“What we do in life, echoes in eternity”  Maximus, Gladiator

“We’ve never lost an American in space, we’re sure as hell not gonna lose one on my watch! Failure is not an option.”  Gene Kranz, Apollo 13

“If you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.”  Mohandas K Gandhi, Gandhi

“Euclid’s first common notion is this: Things which are equal to the same things are equal to each other. That’s a rule of mathematical reasoning and its true because it works – has done and always will do.”  Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln

“A compass, I learnt when I was surveying, it’ll… it’ll point you true north from where you’re standing, but it’s got no advice about the swamps, deserts and chasms that you’ll encounter along the way. If, in pursuit of your destination, you plunge ahead heedless of obstacles, and achieve nothing more than to sink in a swamp, what’s the use of knowing true north?”  Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln

“The day I am afraid to (risk my future as a leader) is the day I am no longer fit to lead.”  Nelson Mandela, Invictus

“You said we’re a team. One person struggles, we all struggle. One person triumphs, we all triumph.”  Jason Lyle, Coach Carter

“There is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path.”  Morpheus, The Matrix

“People want leadership, Mr. President, and in the absence of genuine leadership, they’ll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”  Lewis Rothschild, The American President

“I don’t gripe to you, Reiben. I’m a captain. There’s a chain of command. Gripes go up, not down. Always up. You gripe to me, I gripe to my superior officer, so on, so on, and so on. I don’t gripe to you. I don’t gripe in front of you. You should know that as a Ranger.”  Captain Miller, Saving Private Ryan

“Whoever tells the best story, wins.”  John Quincy Adams, Amistad

“Great moments are born from great opportunity.”  Herb Brooks, Miracle

“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”  Sirius Black, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

You can find more quotes at 21 Inspirational Quotes from Movies and 21 More Inspirational Quotes from Movies.

LIKE THIS POST? YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY...
Breaking out of a rut: The Wisdom of Groundhog Day

Sometimes we all feel a little stuck in a rut. Caught up in the treadmill of life and feeling like Read more

How we learn helplessness – and how to overcome it

In the 1960s, psychologist Marty Seligman inadvertently stumbled upon a finding that can have a profound impact on our happiness Read more

How the Star Wars saga illustrates personality traits

What makes us who we are? What personalities are we born with? How much of our personality is fixed, and Read more

Leading without authority: The Intern

You don’t have to be in a position of authority to show leadership. And one movie that makes this point Read more

Uncovering the leadership lessons in Hidden Figures

We all have people in our organisations who don't receive the recognition they may deserve. The ones who work away in Read more

4 thoughts on “21 Great Leadership Quotes from Movies”

  1. “Get busy living, or get busy dying”. Andy- ShawShank Redemption

    “You had me at hello”. – Jerry McGuire

    “Help me, help you”! Jerry McGuire

    “You can’t handle the truth” – Jack Nicholson – A Few Good Men

  2. Pingback: Leadership Quotes - What Inspiration Do You Need? | Corporate Culture Pros

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *