Leadership and Service--Quotes

Many feel that the key to leadership is service to others.  In his leadership blog, John Maxwell provided a list of outstanding quotes on service.

Here is the link to the posting:  http://johnmaxwellonleadership.com/2013/01/08/quotes-on-service/

Two quotes really stood out for me.

“Service is the measure of greatness; it always has been true; it is true today, and it always will be true, that he is greatest who does the most of good. Nearly all of our controversies and combats grow out of the fact that we are trying to get something from each other–there will be peace when our aim is to do something for each other. The human measure of a human life is its income; the divine measure of a life is its outgo, its overflow–its contribution to the welfare of all.” ~ William Jennings Bryan

“The purpose of life is not to win. The purpose of life is to grow and to share. When you come to look back on all that you have done in life, you will get more satisfaction from the pleasure you have brought into other people’s lives than you will from the times that you outdid and defeated them.” ~ Harold Kushner

In particular, I like the comment by Bryan that "nearly all of our controversies and combats grow out of the fact that we are trying to get something from each other."  Many leaders and projects are severely hampered by the mindset of "what is in it for me."