‘All of you young people who have been given the enriching opportunity of an advanced education will in the future be called upon to shoulder in varying degrees the responsibility for leading and serving the nation.” - HIM Haile Selassie I
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie on Leadership - July 17, 1959
“We all know that the need for good leadership in every walk of life is much greater today than ever before. Every aspect of living demands guiding hands, business, the professions, fine arts, the mechanical arts. And all of you young people who have been given the opportunity of an advanced education will in the future be called upon to shoulder, in varying degrees, the responsibilities to leading and serving the nation.
“It is important however to remember that leadership does not mean domination. The world is always well supplied with people who wish to rule and dominate others. The true leader is of a different sort. He seeks effective activity which has a truly beneficent purpose. He inspires others to follow in his wake, and holding aloft the torch of wisdom leads the way for society to realize its genuinely great aspirations.
“You have learnt from your study of history that the story of nations is often told in terms of the accomplishment of individuals. In every significant event in history you will find a courageous and determined leader, an inspiring goal or objective, and an adversary who sought to spoil his efforts.
“In any normal society everyone has some opportunity to show himself as a leader, Even the mechanic or clerk who has an assistant assigned to him, not to speak of the doctor with all his helpers the officer who commands his troops, is a leader. Within his own sphere each has the same opportunity for showing ability and the same potential satisfactions as has the leader of a Government. The leader is marked out by his individual craftsmanship, his sensibility and insight, his initiative and energy.
“Leaders are people who raise the standards by which they judge themselves, and by which they are willing to be judged. The goal chosen, the objective selected, the requirements imposed are not merely for their followers alone. They develop with consummate energy and devotion their own skill and knowledge in order to reach the standards they themselves have set. This wholehearted acceptance of the demands imposed by ever-higher standards is the basis of all human progress. A love of high quality we must remember is essential in a leader.
“Dependability is another requirement in a leader. To be dependable is to be willing to accept the responsibility and to carry it out faithfully. A leader will always be willing to take counsel from his people. But will have to often act on what his own mind tells him is right. This demands that the leader has trained himself out of any inordinate fear of making mistakes.
“To embark successfully in a career involving leadership demands a courageous and determined spirit. Once a person has decided upon his life’s work and is assured that in doing the work for which he is best endowed and equipped he is filling a vital need, what he then needs is faith and integrity, coupled with a courageous spirit so that no longer preferring himself to the fulfillment of his task he may address himself to the problems he must solve in order to be effective.
“One mark of the great leader is that he feels sufficiently secure to devote his thought and attention to the well being of his subordinates and the perfection of his task, rather than being constantly worried about the approval of disapproval of others.
“He who would be a leader must pay the price in self-discipline and moral restraint. This entails the correction and improvement of personal character, the checking of passions and desires, and an exemplary control of one’s bodily needs and drives.
“Leaders have to submit themselves to a stricter self-discipline, and develop a more exemplary moral character than is expected of others. To be first in place one must be first in merit as well.
“It should not surprise us then to find that the greater number of acknowledged leaders have been people who trained themselves in the art of discipline and obedience. He who has not learned to render prompt and willing service to others will find it difficult to win and keep the goodwill and co-operation of his subordinates.
“Further a leader must possess initiative which is the creative ability to think in new ways and do new things. The leader has always to stay ahead. He cannot afford to set up a procedure and then fold his hands and linger lazily watching it work. He cannot be content merely to see new trends and take advantage of them. He must keep his imagination vividly alive so as to originate ideas and start trends.
“A word of warning is in order here. To help one’s subordinates or dependents at the cost of harm to the public is tantamount to sacrilege and blasphemy. It is unfortunate that many in positions of leadership both great and small have been found guilty of such practices.
“A good leader is devoted to his work and will willingly forego even the demands of sleep to see its accomplishment. This does not mean that he is impetuous. On the other hand, he maintains a balance between emotional drive and sound thinking.
“His labors, which sometimes appear excessive, derive from his firm realization that unless a man undertakes more than he can possibly do he will never be able to do all he can do. It is his enthusiasm that stimulates his energy.
No matter what our point of departure in speaking of leadership we reach the inescapable conclusion that the art of leadership consists in the ability to make people want to work for you when they are really under no obligation to do so.
The true leader is one who realizes by faith that he is an instrument in the hands of God and educates himself to be a guide and inspirer of the nobler sentiments and aspirations to the people. He will kindle interest, teach, aid, correct and inspire. Those whom he leads will co-operate with him in maintaining discipline for the good of the group. He will instruct his followers in the goals towards which to strive, and create in them a sense of mutual effort for attaining the goal.”
Listen now to the words of His Imperial Majesty, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I on
African Development: Planning, Implementation and Personal Sacrifice:
“Our concern is with the many and not the few.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 3, 1966
“The ownership of a plot of land must be brought within the capacity of everyone who so desires.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 3, 1966
“It is Our task and responsibility, as it is of Our Government, to transform these objectives into coherent, acceptable and realistic legislative and financial programmes and to see to their accomplishment. If this is done, the duty owed to the Ethiopian nation and people will be discharged. To succeed will require the single-minded, tenacious, and unselfish dedication of each one of us.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 3, 1966.
“In this noble task each one of Our people, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, able and disabled, has a role to play and We are sure Our Empire will march ahead towards prosperity and progress through united efforts of all Our citizens.” H.I.M Haile Selassie I, July 7, 1964
“Even assuming, however, that the will and the desire exist, there remains the immensely difficult and complex task of organizing the nation’s energies and resources and directing them in a well-conceived and fully integrated fashion to the achieving of carefully studied and clearly defined ends.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 4, 1967
“In Ethiopia, increased emphasis is currently being given to the concept and function of planning.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 4, 1967
“Planning ensures a simultaneous accomplishment of developmental projects with a view to achieving accelerated progress, thus avoiding wastage of financial resources, labour and time.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, March 23, 1966.
“As has already been manifested by your endeavours the people themselves must come to realize their own difficulties in the development of their community and try to solve them by collective participation following an order of priority and taking their potentiality into account.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, January 12, 1963
“When people express their felt needs, these have to be formulated into plans.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 7, 1964
“ . . . Any plan which does not have the proper personnel to execute it will remain a mere plan on paper.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 2, 1963
“We prepare development plans for our country with the understanding that our people will take an active and substantial part in carrying out the plans to successful conclusions.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, January 1, 1967
“Every Ethiopian has a social obligation to contribute as much as possible in financial, material or physical aid for road construction and other projects which add to the progress of the country.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, January 1, 1967
“Self help thus is the quintessence of community development programmes. It is, therefore, essential that initiative and desire for improvement should emanate from the people and not be superimposed from outside. It is of course the primary task of community development workers to motivate and stimulate the people to cross barriers of apathy and helplessness.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie, July 7, 1964
“The key to the attainment of any goal lies in one’s ability to learn to direct one’s objectives towards clearly defined ends and to pursue them in an orderly, rational and co-ordinated fashion. The means which modern economic philosophy have devised for the attainment of such goals is the preparation of long-term projects and plans and their execution to the extent possible.” H.I.M Haile Selassie I, November 3, 1968
“Our utmost interest now is focused upon economic development. It is quite necessary for those of you who have studied economics to be masters of your art in using both in private life as well as in the service of the government which you are serving.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, December 20, 1963
“Let us not, however, be misled. The preparation of an economic plan is only half the task, and perhaps not even that. The real test comes in the implementation, and here even the best of plans can be subverted and destroyed. Once an overall economic plan is adopted, the nation’s budget must be tailored to the implementation of the plan. Individual development projects must be fitted into the priorities established in the plan. Haphazard and ill-coordinated economic activity must be avoided at all costs. Investment must be controlled and directed as the plan dictates. And, most important, all of this must be accomplished in a coordinated and efficient fashion. The responsibility of the plan does not rest upon any single ministry or department; it is a collective responsibility, shared by all development ministries concerned with economic and social development, indeed by all departments and officials.” H.I.M Haile Selassie I, November 4, 1967.
“If Our aims and objectives are to be realized, each one of us must labour and assume his share of responsibility for the progress and prosperity of the nation. If We do so, We are satisfied that acceptable results will follow.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, March 23, 1966
“This is the new attitude which must be encouraged: the communal as opposed to the individual approach, the spirit of working together that all may benefit.” H.I.M Haile Selassie I, November 4, 1967
“What Our country needs now is an increase in the supply of trained and skilled manpower, men, of professional integrity.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 16, 1969
“We need well-qualified people who are proud of being Ethiopians; people who are proud of being Africans; people who are prepared to execute the plans that have already been envisioned.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 2, 1963
“How noble and great a deed is the act of sacrificing one’s wealth, land and money, to one’s needy community instead of for selfish purposes!” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, January 12, 1963
“Man desires many things, but it is the individual’s duty and responsibility to desire the proper things. Anyone who makes the wrong choices will be a burden, not only to himself but to future generations.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 2, 1963
“A qualified man with vision, unmoved by daily selfish interests, will be led to the right decisions by his conscience.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 2, 1963
“No elaboration is required to show that to dwell on idle thoughts and vain debate amounts to wasting one’s own precious time, as well as that of others, for it retards Ethiopia’s progress. The struggle to increase life expectancy and to eradicate disease and poverty, two of the main obstacles to progress and development, call for diligent, conscientious effort from the educated. What we expect of such persons is a serious sense of duty. Problems of need, rather than being used as topics of idle talk must create an impetus, a new driving force, towards progress.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 4, 1972
“But the man, whatever his task, who has spent his time in idleness, whose hand has been turned to little of profit or value during his waking hours, has earned only the scorn and disdain of his fellowmen whom he has thus cheated.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 17, 1965
“To place all responsibility upon the shoulders of one individual while all others sit idly by and seek only to criticize and find fault is, in our era, to act contrary to the movement for the progress and advancement of the country.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, March 23, 1966.
“One who does not contribute to his community and the coming generation remains to be a burden to his society and an object of ridicule to outside observers.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, January 12, 1963
“A hungry person cannot be appeased by merely being told about his hunger, similarly, what Ethiopia needs is not a person who can talk about her problems but someone who is determined to serve her with enthusiasm, re-inspired by her long and glorious history and spurred by the present gap. This can best be manifested not in words but in deeds. Your conviction to help the country must be demonstrated in your determination to work. To do that, you must, instead of working for personal ends, toil for the community and common results.” -H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 6, 1970
“Laziness is the sole breeder of sin, poverty and discontent.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, June 12, 1963
“Simply watching other people’s achievements is a characteristic of the lazy man.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 2, 1963.
“The man who sets his goals too low and who accepts too little as enough, squanders the talents and abilities with which Almighty God and nature have endowed him.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 22, 1963
“If we ponder deeply on our situation today, We shall find that we lack for little. The resources are available; the nation’s youth are gaining knowledge and acquiring experience; it is only necessary that We resolve to work with determination and diligence.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, March 23, 1966
“Work and wealth are at your disposal.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, January 12, 1963
“. . . . All that We require is co-operation, mutual assistance and the profound consciousness that We are fulfilling Ourselves in the discharge of Our planned and assigned responsibilities.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, March 23, 1966
“We remind you, therefore that you utilize all your thoughts and knowledge to the ultimate objective of moral satisfaction and the pride of your countrymen, regardless of your personal interest. Your job takes care of you and there will not be any need to concern yourselves with your personal affairs.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, January 23, 1963.
“Each one of you must not only be prepared for the demands your country places on you, but you must also be prepared and willing to risk your life in the execution of your responsibilities.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, October 12, 1965
“You are being watched by the nation and you should realize that you will satisfy it if you do good; but if, on the contrary, you do evil, it will lose its hope and its confidence in you.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, Juy 2, 1963
“Nations and individuals alike are often more accurately judged not only by what they accomplished, but by what they attempted. A noble failure may be of more value than a petty success.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 22, 1963
“No one of you is free to act arbitrarily without considering the consequences, or irrationally, without ensuring that his actions contribute to the good of the Ethiopian nation.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 22, 1963
“There is no room for irresponsible action. There is no room for heedless or reckless decisions. There is no room for lawlessness or defiance of constituted authority.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 4, 1967
“Each one of you will be held directly and individually responsible for what you do.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 22, 1963
“ . . . . Failure at any step of the way will defeat the efforts of all.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, May 20, 1965.
“Greatness cannot be achieved without great accomplishments.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 8, 1966
“Our testimony shall remain valid when evidence of it is seen practically. Praise without any evidence of deed is of no value either to the giver or to the recipient.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, December 20, 1963
“Ethiopia is anxious to preserve and safeguard peace not only to herself, but she is also equally desirous that others enjoy it, and that men live in happiness and in a stable and better world. You should, therefore, always wait in readiness, aware of the fact that you may be called upon to represent Ethiopia in restoring law and order, wherever they may be in danger, side by side with the forces of other peace-loving nations of the world. If you so prepare yourselves, you would not be taken unaware by events.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, October 23, 1964
“Since it is only your conscience and your Creator who keep watch and closely control your various activities, We hope that those of you who are at present serving or will be serving or will be required to serve in this Foundation, will render your services and fulfill your assignments with complete and undivided devotion and conscientiousness.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, September 3, 1965
“The glory and honour which are your magnificent heritage as Ethiopians remain for you to seek and show. In this new epoch your energy and courage will be tested in new and unfamiliar ways.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, October 12, 1965
“Today, we require skill and techniques beyond Our present capacity to provide, and We look to the assistance of foreign experts and technicians to bridge the gap. So, too, do We look for foreign capital investment, and as a natural and normal concomitant, the managers and the professional personnel skilled in the ways of modern industry and business life.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 17, 1964
“Ethiopia today welcomes all who seek entry at her frontiers, and we seek the technology and expertise which others can bring to Our development.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 17, 1965.
“We require knowledge and assistance from abroad.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 17, 1965
“Today, We also accept as an undenied and undeniable part of modern Ethiopian life the principle that a man’s ultimate worth is determined by his ability and his achievements. Let us, from the greatest to the least, take pride in the performance of the tasks and duties assigned to us, whether or not we believe them worthy of our talents, whether we labour silent and alone, or in the crowd and illuminated by the glaring light of public opinion. The reward for the job well done is not in the recognition of others, nor in public praise. Neither is it to be measured solely by the monetary return earned by the workman. It comes, rather, in the inner satisfaction that accompanies the knowledge that the work accomplished represents the best of which we are capable.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 17, 1964
“No one is entitled to the enjoyment and the benefits of Ethiopia’s development who is not prepared to partake of the sweat and toil which have brought the nation to its present stage of advancement.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 17, 1965.
“The community development worker’s task is unique. We must be prepared to work late at night, on official holiday’s or any odd hour, if the need arises. A good community development worker is always as ready to learn as to teach . . . . If you are open-minded and ready to learn, there are many things which you can learn not only from books and instructors but from the very life experience itself. There are definitely many things which you can learn from the people. If you are guided by this principle, you will be surprised at how pleasant life can be even under trying conditions.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 7, 1964
“To those who contribute willingly, to the best of their abilities, who, in sweat and toil, work for the good of the nation with little thought of self, to them will much be given, even to the governing of the land.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 17, 1965
“We see in these programmes the realisation of years of effort, and We are sobered as We realise once more how long is the time between the recognition of the need and the attainment of the concrete possibilities to meet it.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 22, 1963
“Although you have approached the end of your goal, you have not finished it yer. You have to work hard in order to reach your goal.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, January 1, 1967
“What you have here begun, remains to be finished, and he who gives up before the whole task is accomplished reserves for himself not joy and reward, but despair and blame richly deserved. So today marks the end only of the first chapter in the book of your attainments, and your joy, like your achievement, is incomplete.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 1, 1967
“You have still far to go. Along the tortuous paths that now lie ahead, you will be exposed to the rigorous teachings of life itself. There you will find no ready reference books, no study guides. There, there is no going back. The lessons of life, if once they are missed, are missed forever.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 1, 1967
“You should act upon this proposal as a matter of urgency in order that this immense programme, so vital to every man, woman and child in Ethiopia, may proceed on schedule.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 3, 1966.
“We heartily thank Our people who first conceived the plan, who initiated it, who directed the work, and those people who voluntarily contributed their money.” H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, January 1, 1967"
ETHIOPIAN EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE TO GRADUATING STUDENTS IN AFRICA:
"You have spent most of the past years aided and advised by your teachers in the library and in the laboratory. But do you know what is expected of you as of today? Is each one of you ready to discharge the responsibility laid upon you?
Once you are out of school, to find answers to these and similar questions, pressure of time and the nature of work may not allow you to look into books and ask teachers. Therefore, you should realize as of now that you are alone on the road.
We say this because We trust that you have, while at the University, seen that truth, far-sightedness, honesty and loyalty must replace personal luxury and comfort in the process of NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
We wish Our University graduates to be hard working, dedicated and truthful citizens and not half-baked gossips, lacking in initiative and ABILITY TO TRANSLATE INTO ACTION WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED.
We have said many times that simply admiring others' achievements is not only playing the role of a mere parasite but is also the practice of idlers . . . .
When We speak of education, We are not referring to the education only confined to the four walls of a classroom but to that type which can have a DIRECT IMPACT ON THE BETTERMENT OF THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF OUR PEOPLE.
If we would only substitute with hard work in our respective fields the time taken by mere talk of others' advancements, we would have the opportunity to see CONCRETE RESULTS OF PROGRESS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY AND TALK WITH PRIDE ABOUT IT. That such opportunities can be provided by young ETHIOPIANS like you, trained in modern science, prepared to apply MODERN ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNIQUES, dedicated and ready to involve themselves in the struggle for our national development, must be ever born in mind." H.I.M. Haile Selassie the First July 6, 1970
HIM Haile Selassie I on Work:
“Unless a man undertakes more than he can possibly do, he will never be able to do all he can.”
“We will never truly know what we are truly capable of accomplishing unless we fully maximize all that we can possibly do. We must task ourselves to do all we can and even then to try and do even more than that. Only then will we truly know how much we are capable of doing. Then we will know, we all along with the grace of the Almighty can truly do more than we thought possible.”
“Man, who is by nature selfish, must learn that only in serving others can he reach the full stature or attain the noble destinies for which God created him.”
It is only natural for anyone to want to think about themselves first. By nature this is concerning the works of the flesh, once we let go of the flesh and work towards the fruit of the spirit.
Then we will realize that, living in love, hope and faith, will lead you to a selfless life in the Creator. We will surrender the nature of the flesh, to abide in the fruit of the spirit.
Work Diligently and purposefully.
“The reward for job well done is not the recognition of others, or in public praise. Neither is it to be measured solely by the monetary return earned by the workman.”
“For a job truly well done, in fullness and a whole heart, can never be measured by monetary rewards. Neither will there be satisfaction in the recognition of others or public praise for doing a good job.
But, the true satisfaction will come from within, knowing that you gave your utmost best, your everything into the job. This comes from knowing you were able to carry out a task and completing it. This comes from knowing no man can take that away from you, only Jah.”
“The attainment of any one goal is never more than a temporary achievement. A mountain-top is reached; beyond, on the far slope there are new lands to explore, and new peaks to scale.”
“Have you ever set a goal before and then went on to accomplishing it? Has achieving these goals ever stopped a new goal from arising? One more difficult, more challenging and yet more rewarding.
Once you’ve accomplished a task set out before you, you’ll then realize you’ve grown. You’ve become bigger than the situation, therefore a new challenge, a new goal will arise.
It will come as a reflection of you’re no longer where you once were, but now somewhere different. Welcome this growth.”
“The way will be perilous, sacrifices will be demanded of us, our labours may go unobserved and our triumphs unnoticed except to ourselves. [I]n the ultimate sense, this is wholly as it should be, for we are men and this is man’s lot.”
“Once one has decided upon his life’s goal, one of a selfless cause, he will no doubt go through a rough battle. He will face many adversities, many obstacles, many trials and tribulations. Sacrifices will have to be made, and in many times unnoticed.”
“We who have dedicated our lives for something greater than ourselves, knows all too well, this is our destiny. We are greater than just being acknowledge for what, by right is our natural way of life.”
