Great leadership quotes inspire and guide us. They become part of our mainstream language and are instilled into our culture. We accept them as a reflection of the ideal, aspire to live them, and use them when teaching others about leadership.

But sometimes a quote takes root that sends us in the wrong direction. Frequently these are from highly respected, frequently quoted leaders. Without bothering to think critically, we just assume everything they say is on target. It might also be that the quote is pithy, or we like the way it sounds. The problem with a catchy slogan is that the form supersedes the content.

These 10 terrible leadership quotes are actually included on many lists of the best leadership quotes. Although these particular quotes miss the mark, you can find many other excellent quotes by each of these leaders.

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