John Heider Quotes & Sayings

Silence is a great source of strength. — John Heider

Allow regular time for silent reflection. Turn inward and digest what has happened. Let the senses rest and grow still. — John Heider

You are a midwife, assisting at someone else's birth. Do good without show or fuss. Facilitate what is happening rather than what you think ought to be happening. If you must take the lead, lead so that the mother is helped, yet still free and in charge. When the baby is born, the mother will rightly say, "We did it ourselves! — John Heider

If you want to be free, learn to live simply. — John Heider

The wise leader speaks rarely and briefly. After all, no other natural outpouring goes on and on. It rains and then it stops. It thunders and then it stops. — John Heider

Your behaviour influences others through a ripple effect. A ripple effect works because everyone influences everyone else. Powerful people are powerful influences. — John Heider

Learn to see things backwards, inside out, and upside down. — John Heider

Endless drama in a group clouds consciousness. Too much noise overwhelms the senses. Continual input obscures genuine insight. Do not substitute sensationalism for learning. — John Heider

Have respect for every person and every issue directed at you. Do not dismiss any encounter as insignificant. — John Heider

Teach people to let go of their superficial mental chatter and obsessions. Teach people to pay attention to the whole body's reaction to a situation. — John Heider

The leader teaches more through being than through doing. The quality of one's silence conveys more than long speeches. — John Heider

To know how other people behave takes intelligence, but to know myself takes wisdom. To manage other people's lives takes strength, but to manage my own life takes true power. If I am content with what I have, I can live simply and enjoy both prosperity and free time. If my goals are clear, I can achieve them without fuss. If I am at peace with myself, I will not spend my life force in conflicts. If I have learned to let go, I do not need to fear dying. — John Heider