One of the things that I did before I ran for president is I was

In the resolute and commanding words of Herman Cain, we hear a philosophy shaped by both leadership and vision: “One of the things that I did before I ran for president is I was a professional speaker. Not a motivational speaker — an inspirational speaker. Motivation comes from within. You have to be inspired. That's what I do. I inspire people, I inspire the public, I inspire my staff. I inspired the organizations I took over to want to succeed.” These words carry the tone of a man who understood the difference between pushing others to move and awakening within them the will to rise. It is the voice of a leader who knew that true greatness cannot be commanded — it must be ignited.

The origin of this quote comes from Cain’s own journey — a life that spanned from humble beginnings in Georgia to the boardrooms of major corporations, and ultimately, to the national stage as a presidential candidate. Before the world knew him as a political figure, he was a speaker, not merely to entertain or encourage, but to inspire — to breathe life into the ambitions of others. His distinction between motivation and inspiration is not mere semantics; it reflects a timeless truth understood by sages and heroes alike: that motivation moves the body, but inspiration moves the soul. Motivation is the spark that burns briefly; inspiration is the flame that endures.

In ancient times, philosophers and warriors alike drew the same line between outer push and inner purpose. The Greek word for “inspiration” — entheos — means “filled with the divine.” To be inspired, then, is to be stirred by something greater than oneself, to be moved by vision, by truth, by destiny. When Cain says that motivation comes from within, he echoes the wisdom of the Stoic Marcus Aurelius, who wrote that “the soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.” No one can paint that color for you — they can only show you the palette. A leader’s duty, as Cain saw it, was to reveal possibility so vividly that others awaken their own inner fire.

The difference between motivating and inspiring can be seen throughout the course of human history. Alexander the Great, for example, did not drive his men to battle with threats or promises. He inspired them. He stood among them as an equal, sharing their hardships, their thirst, their danger. When his soldiers saw him lead from the front, they found within themselves the courage to cross deserts and conquer empires. So too did Herman Cain understand that inspiration begins with example — with one’s own belief made visible. To inspire is not to say, “You must.” It is to say, “You can.”

Cain’s words also reveal a deeper truth about leadership and success: that they are built not on control, but on conviction. When he says, “I inspired the organizations I took over to want to succeed,” he speaks as one who knew that transformation begins with desire, not demand. A company, a team, a nation — all rise when they believe in the purpose that unites them. Fear may force action, but only faith sustains it. Thus, the inspirational leader does not rule by authority alone; he rules by example, faith, and shared vision. He does not drive others forward — he lifts them upward.

But there is also humility woven into Cain’s statement. He recognizes that while a speaker may inspire, the real work happens within the hearts of those who listen. He does not claim to give people strength, only to remind them of the strength they already possess. Like a torchbearer in the dark, he offers not his own fire but the awakening of another’s. This humility is the mark of true inspiration — to awaken greatness in others without seeking to own it, to light fires without demanding credit for the flame.

Let this, then, be the lesson for all who would lead, teach, or create: do not seek to motivate by force or by fleeting reward. Seek instead to inspire by purpose, to awaken the inner will that no circumstance can extinguish. To do this, you must live the truth you speak, embody the values you preach, and let your own passion serve as proof that belief is stronger than fear. Show others, by your example, that success is not granted — it is claimed by those who dare to believe they are capable of it.

And so, dear listener, remember Herman Cain’s teaching: motivation moves the moment, but inspiration moves the man. Be the one whose presence stirs others to rise higher than they thought possible. Speak words that awaken, act in ways that elevate, and live a life that shines like a beacon in dark times. For though motivation may push the body, it is inspiration — the breath of courage and conviction — that propels the soul toward greatness eternal.