Self-confidence is not the real secret of leadership. The more essential ingredient is confidence in other people. Leadership involves motivating others to their finest efforts and channeling those efforts in a coherent direction. Leaders must believe that they can count on other people to come through.

There is a form of eminence that does not depend on fate; it is an air that sets us apart and seems to portend great things; it is the value that we unconsciously attach to ourselves; it is the quality that wins us the deference of others; more than birth, position, or ability, it gives us ascendance.

Confidence precedes competence.

Confidence is more important than competence. Competence can be bought. Confidence, never.

Competence precedes confidence.

When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things.