The loneliness of leadership

From the spring 2006 issue of the BYU Alumni magazine (p. 27), a quote by President Hinckley:

It was ever thus. The price of leadership is loneliness. The price of adherence to conscience is loneliness. The price of adherence to principle is loneliness. I think it is inescapable. The Savior of the world was a man who walked in loneliness. I do not know of any statement more underlined with the pathos of loneliness than his statement:

…The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. [Matt. 8:20]

There is no lonelier picture in history than of the Savior upon the cross, alone, the Redeemer of mankind, the Savior of the world, bringing to pass the atonement, the Son of God suffering for the sins of mankind….

I would like to say to you here today, my brethren and sisters, there is loneliness — but a man of your kind has to live with his conscience. A man has to live with his principles. A man has to live with his convictions. A man has to live with his testimony. Unless he does so, he is miserable — dreadfully miserable. And while there may be thorns, while there may be disappointment, while there may be trouble and travail, heartache and heartbreak, and desperate loneliness, there will be peace and comfort and strength. (”The Loneliness of Leadership,” Nov. 4, 1969, pp. 3, 5-6)

He’s right. That’s exactly how it is.

Update: You can download a free MP3 of his talk from the BYU Speeches website.

Of course, one has to make certain he isn’t alone because he is pig-headed and uncompromising. I agree that is why it is so rare to find really good, grounded leaders. That line is so fine and that balance so incredibly hard to strike. It’s easy to get lost on one side or the other.