The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) was the 34th President of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. Before his presidency, he was a five-star general in the United States Army and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. He led the invasion of France and Germany in 1944-45 from the Western Front. During his presidency, he managed Cold War conflicts, created NASA, and oversaw significant civil rights legislation including the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

This quote reflects Eisenhower's military and political leadership experience, where he witnessed firsthand the crucial role of integrity in leadership positions. As someone who led both military operations and later the entire nation, Eisenhower understood that success in any organizational context - whether military, political, or business - fundamentally depends on the leader's integrity. He emphasized this point throughout his career, particularly in his speeches to military officers and civilian leaders, stressing that without a foundation of honesty and moral principles, leadership would ultimately fail regardless of other skills or circumstances.