The test of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but

Hear, O seekers of wisdom, the words attributed to James Buchanan, who declared: “The test of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.” This is not the language of flattery, but the voice of truth that calls us to see leadership not as the act of creating something new within men and women, but of awakening what already sleeps in the depths of their souls. For every human being carries within them the seeds of courage, wisdom, and greatness, though these seeds often lie hidden beneath the weight of fear, doubt, and circumstance.

What does it mean to elicit greatness? It is the art of drawing forth, like water from a deep well. The true leader does not treat people as empty vessels to be filled, nor as clay to be molded by his own hand. Rather, he calls out their hidden strength, inspires their dormant talents, and ignites their courage. He sees not only what they are, but what they may become. This is the highest form of leadership—not domination, not indoctrination, but inspiration.

And what of greatness itself? Too often men imagine it as the possession of a few rare souls, as though only kings, prophets, or generals were touched by destiny. But Buchanan reminds us that greatness is woven into humanity itself. It is in the peasant who endures with dignity, the mother who sacrifices with love, the worker who labors with integrity, the child who dreams without fear. The leader’s task is to uncover this greatness, to bring it into light, to show people that they already carry within them the power to rise.

Consider the example of Mahatma Gandhi. He did not give greatness to the people of India; he revealed it to them. He showed them that they already had the strength to resist tyranny, that their dignity was not bestowed by rulers but was their birthright. Through his words and example, he drew forth their courage and patience, turning millions of ordinary men and women into a force that shook an empire. Gandhi embodied Buchanan’s wisdom: he did not impose greatness from without; he called it forth from within.

So too did Nelson Mandela in South Africa. After twenty-seven years of imprisonment, he did not return to his people as one who granted them greatness, but as one who reminded them of their own. He called them to rise above hatred, to embrace reconciliation, and to build a nation upon justice and unity. His leadership was a mirror in which people saw their own potential reflected. He elicited their greatness, and in doing so, his own became clear.

The meaning of Buchanan’s words, then, is this: the test of leadership is measured not by what a leader claims for himself, but by what he awakens in others. A tyrant seeks to impose his will, to shape people into instruments of his ambition. A true leader seeks to liberate the hidden greatness within his people, so that they may rise not as tools, but as co-creators of destiny. Such leadership is rare, but when it appears, it transforms history.

The lesson, O listeners, is plain: in your own life, whether you lead many or few, seek not to force others into your image, but to awaken their own. Believe that within every person lies a spark of greatness. Speak words that encourage, create conditions that inspire, live in such a way that others find in themselves the courage to grow. In this way, you will pass the true test of leadership, and your legacy will not be in what you accomplished alone, but in what you called forth from others.

Therefore, let your practice be this: look upon every person as a bearer of greatness. Ask not, “How can I shape them?” but “How can I awaken them?” Be a mirror that reflects their potential, a flame that kindles their courage, a guide that calls them upward. For as Buchanan declared, greatness is already there—and the leader’s highest calling is simply to bring it to light.