You cannot be a leader, and ask other people to follow you, unless you know how to follow, too.
Meaning of the quote
To be a good leader, you need to know how to be a good follower. It's not enough to just tell people to follow you - you have to show them that you can follow instructions and work with others too. Being a leader means you can both guide people and also listen to them and follow their lead when it's needed.
About Sam Rayburn
Sam Rayburn was a prominent American politician who served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives for over 17 years, spanning multiple terms. He was a Democrat from Texas and played a key role in shaping American politics during his long career in Congress.
More quotes from Sam Rayburn
Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
Son, always tell the truth. Then you’ll never have to remember what you said the last time.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
I like power and I like to use it.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
The real actor has a direct line to the collective heart.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
No one has a finer command of language than the person who keeps his mouth shut.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
A jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
You’ll never get mixed up if you simply tell the truth. Then you don’t have to remember what you have said, and you never forget what you have said.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
If you want to get along, go along.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
If a man has common sense, he has all the sense there is.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
A damn independent boy; independent as a hog on ice.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
When you get too big a majority, you’re immediately in trouble.’
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
Too many critics mistake the deliberations of the Congress for its decisions.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)
You cannot be a leader, and ask other people to follow you, unless you know how to follow, too.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1955-1961), American politician (1882-1961)