Since taking office, President Obama has worked to restore a

John O. Brennan, a counselor in matters of state and guardian of security, spoke these words of great weight: “Since taking office, President Obama has worked to restore a positive vision of American leadership in the world – leadership defined, not by the threats and dangers that we will oppose, but by the security, opportunity and dignity that America advances in partnership with people around the world.” In this declaration, he set forth a vision of leadership not born of fear and force, but of hope and fellowship. He named the higher calling of power: to build, not only to resist; to inspire, not only to threaten; to lift, not only to defend.

The ancients themselves knew that true leadership must be measured not only by the enemies it defeats, but by the harmony it creates. When Cyrus the Great forged the Persian Empire, he did not rule merely by conquest, but by granting freedom of worship and dignity to the peoples he absorbed. It was not his armies alone that secured his reign, but the trust born of his partnership with those under his protection. So too, Brennan’s words remind us that America’s strength does not lie only in its might of arms, but in its ability to advance security, opportunity, and dignity for all peoples.

This vision stands in contrast to the leadership of fear. Too often in history, nations have defined themselves by what they resist, by the dangers they oppose. Rome in its decline fought endless wars against barbarians, and though it resisted for centuries, it forgot to inspire, to unite, to offer hope. A house built on defense alone must eventually crumble, for fear cannot nourish the human spirit. But a nation that offers dignity and opportunity plants seeds that endure beyond empires and centuries.

President Obama, in Brennan’s telling, sought to shape such a vision. He believed that America’s greatness would not be measured by the number of enemies slain or territories subdued, but by the bridges built across oceans, by the trust of allies, and by the respect of those who longed for justice. His leadership was to be a flame, not a sword—a flame that illuminated pathways of cooperation in climate, in trade, in human rights. Brennan’s words reflect this: that America could best lead the world by becoming a partner in hope, not merely a sentinel against danger.

Consider the example of the Marshall Plan after World War II. The United States might have turned inward, fearing the destruction that had nearly consumed Europe. Instead, it invested in rebuilding nations, creating prosperity where there had been ruin. This act of leadership, defined not by the enemies it opposed but by the opportunity and dignity it fostered, became a cornerstone of peace and alliance for decades to come. Here we see the living embodiment of Brennan’s words—a reminder that generosity and vision can accomplish what armies cannot.

The lesson for us is profound: true leadership is not reaction but creation. To define oneself only against enemies is to live in shadows; to define oneself by the hope one offers is to walk in light. In our own lives, as in nations, the same principle applies. We are strongest not when we are merely resisting dangers, but when we are building security for those around us, creating opportunities for others, and offering dignity in all our dealings. This is the leadership that endures.

Practical action follows. As individuals, seek to lead not by domination or fear, but by example and compassion. Create spaces where others feel secure. Offer opportunities, even small ones, that lift your companions. Treat all with dignity, even when it costs you pride. And as citizens, demand from your leaders not only promises of defense, but visions of peace, prosperity, and partnership. For it is through these things that communities thrive and civilizations endure.

Thus, children of the future, remember Brennan’s testimony: leadership is not defined by the dangers we resist, but by the good we advance. Let your lives be torches of security, opportunity, and dignity, so that when others look upon you, they see not a wall of fear but a light of hope. For only in such leadership does humanity rise above survival into greatness, and only in such greatness can peace endure from one generation to the next.