A person, who no matter how desperate the situation, gives others

Daisaku Ikeda once said: “A person, who no matter how desperate the situation, gives others hope, is a true leader.” These words rise like a beacon through the mists of despair, reminding us of what leadership truly means. Not power, not command, not wealth nor title — but the ability to awaken hope in others when all else seems lost. Spoken by a man whose life was forged in hardship and whose philosophy centers on peace and human dignity, this quote carries the quiet strength of lived truth. Ikeda, a Buddhist thinker and founder of the Soka Gakkai International movement, understood that hope is the fire of the human spirit — and that to keep it alive in others is the highest act of courage.

To give hope when the world trembles is no small task. It is easy to lead in times of abundance, when the winds of fortune blow kindly and every heart is light. But true leadership is born in the storm. It is in the midnight of suffering that the leader of spirit arises — not to command armies or build monuments, but to kindle light in the eyes of those who have forgotten how to see. Ikeda’s teaching speaks not of dominance, but of compassion; not of authority, but of service. For the leader who gives hope is like the sun after a long winter — steady, quiet, and life-giving.

The origin of Ikeda’s insight lies in his own life. As a young man in postwar Japan, he lived through destruction, poverty, and despair. His nation lay in ruins, its people disheartened. Yet through the mentorship of his teacher, Josei Toda, Ikeda learned that even in ruin, the greatest power a person can wield is the power of belief — the power to tell others, “You can rise again.” From that conviction, he built a movement dedicated to the dignity of life and the pursuit of peace through education and compassion. His words, then, are not merely philosophy; they are the reflection of a soul that has walked through darkness and emerged bearing the torch of hope.

Throughout history, the greatest figures have been those who lifted the spirits of others when despair seemed absolute. Consider Winston Churchill, standing before a shattered Britain in the Second World War. The bombs fell, the cities burned, and yet his voice — strong, defiant, filled with faith — became the pulse of a nation. “We shall never surrender,” he declared, and with those words he gave his people the courage to endure. Or think of Mahatma Gandhi, whose frail body could not match the might of an empire, yet who gave millions the hope of freedom through the force of peace. In both men, as in Ikeda’s teaching, leadership is revealed not in power over others, but in power for others.

To give hope is to breathe life into the soul. When a leader says, “We will find a way,” he is doing more than speaking — he is shaping destiny. Hope transforms fear into faith, paralysis into motion. It reminds people that even when the night is long, dawn will come. And so, the true leader does not deny the darkness; he acknowledges it, walks through it, and by his example proves that light is still possible. Such a person becomes a living bridge between despair and renewal, guiding others across the abyss with the strength of conviction.

Yet this truth is not only for kings and commanders — it belongs to all who touch the lives of others. Every teacher, every parent, every friend has the power to lead in this way. The mother who whispers to her child, “You will be okay,” in times of fear is as noble a leader as any statesman. The nurse who comforts the sick, the worker who encourages a weary colleague, the friend who refuses to abandon another in pain — all these are leaders of hope, and the world endures because of them. For even one spark of hope can ignite an entire world of change.

Let this be the lesson passed down to you: when you find yourself in despair, do not wait for someone else to bring light — become the light. Speak words that lift, act in ways that heal, and stand firm when others falter. Leadership begins not in authority, but in compassion — in the willingness to believe that your courage can awaken courage in another. No act of kindness, no word of encouragement, no gesture of faith is ever wasted.

For in the end, as Daisaku Ikeda reminds us, the greatest leader is the one who restores hope where there is none. Titles fade, victories are forgotten, but the heart that rekindles life in another endures forever. So when darkness falls, stand tall — and give hope. For in giving hope, you do not just lead others; you lead humanity itself back toward the light.