Nothing builds authority up like silence, splendor of the strong and shelter of the weak.
Meaning
In The Edge of the Sword, de Gaulle describes how restraint gives a leader weight, because those who speak constantly dilute their words. In meetings, try listening first and speaking last, so your decision lands with more force and others feel heard.
Source: Le Fil de l'épée (1932)
About the author
Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) was a French general who led the Free French Forces during World War II and later founded the Fifth Republic, serving as its first president from 1959 to 1969.
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