Top Great Leaders of the World

World-renowned leaders have significantly shaped society through their vision and transformative actions. The quest for the “greatest leader of all time” is complex, as perspectives vary based on cultural contexts and individual experiences. True leadership goes beyond success; it impacts others and leaves a lasting legacy.

Various leadership styles can be observed in the famous personalities of India and the world. The epitome of their greatness can be seen across various fields. Let us shed some light on some great leaders of the world and get all enlightened.

The Great Leaders of The World And Why

• Mahatma Gandhi – Advocate of nonviolent resistance; led India’s independence movement with integrity.
• Nelson Mandela – Fought apartheid in South Africa; symbol of forgiveness and unity.
• Winston Churchill – WWII leader; inspired Britain with resilience and stirring speeches.
• Martin Luther King Jr. – Championed civil rights; inspired global movements with peaceful activism.
• Mother Teresa – Dedicated humanitarian; emphasized compassion and charity.
• Abraham Lincoln – Unified the U.S. and abolished slavery; model of integrity.
• Cleopatra – Egyptian ruler; known for political diplomacy and alliance-building.

Knowingly or unknowingly, the world has been influenced by great personalities. From Mahatma Gandhi to Nelson Mandela, many remarkable minds have shared their wisdom and achieved extraordinary goals that are still revered today. The title of the greatest leader in the world can vary depending on cultural contexts and personal experiences.

• Different individuals may admire different leaders based on their values, achievements, and impact on society. Here’s a list of some of the greatest leaders throughout history who have made significant contributions:
• Nelson Mandela
• Winston Churchill
• Abraham Lincoln
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Bill Gates
• Martin Luther King Jr.
• Mother Teresa
• Napoleon Bonaparte
• Alexander the Great
• George Washington
• Tim Cook
• Cleopatra VII
• Dalai Lama
• Jacinda Ardern
• Julius Caesar
• Augustus
• Elizabeth I
• Elon Musk
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Genghis Khan
• Greta Thunberg
• Jeff Bezos
• Joan of Arc
• Oprah Winfrey

Each of these leaders has left a lasting legacy, influencing their nations and the world in profound ways. Below, we briefly discuss a few of the great leaders and the reasons for their significance. Please take a look.

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

Mahatma Gandhi ranks among the greatest leaders in the world for his heroic role in shaping history. He was born into an ordinary Indian family in Gujrat, and he was a rebellious leader of a multitude of protests that aimed to liberate India.

Moments like Civil Disobedience, Dandi March, and Quit India were his brainchild and cited his glory. Later on, he was awarded the title of ‘Father of the Nation.’

Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi, a leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule, was known for his philosophy of nonviolent resistance. Here are some quotes attributed to him:

• “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
• “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
• “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
• “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”
• “The future depends on what you do today.”
• “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

Education is a powerful tool that brings awareness and greatness to an individual. Mahatma Gandhi, apart from being a popular leader of the world, also had an exceptional academic journey. Read our blog on the Education of Mahatma Gandhi to know more!

Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

Born as Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in 1910, Mother Teresa has left a lasting dent in humankind. Because of her unforgettable devotion to empowering vulnerable groups, she has grabbed a notable mention in the list of great leaders of the world.

She led a global community in her support, which avidly worked to open orphanages, clinics, etc, around the world, including India. She even received a Nobel Prize for her endeavors to overcome poverty.

Also Read: Mother Teresa: Story, Education, Childhood, Family

Quotes by Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa, known for her selfless service and compassion for the poor and sick, left behind a legacy of love and kindness. Here are some quotes attributed to her:

1. “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
2. “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
3. “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
4. “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
5. “Peace begins with a smile.”
6. “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

Greatness personified Nelson Mandela, a revolutionary anti-apartheid philanthropist, politician, and one of the great leaders of the world, who was the president of South Africa from 1994- 1999.

From being sentenced to life imprisonment in 1963 to a Nobel Prize for ending apartheid in the country in 1993, Nelson Mandela has experienced it all.

Quotes by Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, a key figure in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and the country’s first black president, is celebrated for his leadership, perseverance, and commitment to reconciliation. Here are some quotes attributed to him:

1. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
2. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
3. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
4. “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
5. “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
6. “There is no passion to be found playing small—in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

Also Read: Education of Nelson Mandela

Martin Luther King Jr (1929-1968)

Globally renowned for his speech ‘I Have a Dream’ in Washington, MLK is one of the most celebrated souls across the globe and is named among the great leaders of the world. Just like Gandhi, he also continued his struggles through the Civil Rights Movement for the Afro-Americans.

He was a firm believer in Christianity and, hence, thoroughly followed non-violence.

Quotes by Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, a key figure in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and the country’s first black president, is celebrated for his leadership, perseverance, and commitment to reconciliation. Here are some quotes attributed to him:

• “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
• “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
• “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
• “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Regarded as the savior of democracy, Winston Churchill was the great mind behind the victory of Britain over the Nazis. Born in an aristocratic family, he served the national army of Britain and then, later on, became the Prime Minister in 1940.

Amongst his many honors, some include being elected as a PM again in 1951, the Nobel Prize in Literature, etc.

Also Read: Nobel Laureates of India

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Known as the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was a revolutionary leader who ignited the ‘free nation’ spirit in the USA. He was an award-winning lawyer who later chose the path of politics. Which makes him a great Leader of the world.

Words like democracy, liberty, equal rights, etc., are often used as synonyms for his name due to his inspirational journey of leading the country to victory in the Civil War.

Must Read: Essay on Abraham Lincoln

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)

A vital mention during the great French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte was a reputed French military leader who afterwards became a popular politician. He has been profoundly remembered as the Emperor of France as well as his significant role in the Napoleonic wars.

Napoleon also introduced important reforms, like the Napoleonic Code, which shaped laws around the world. Although he was eventually defeated and exiled, his impact on history remains strong as one of the world’s great leaders.

George Washington (1732- 1799)

George Washington is fondly remembered as one of the founding fathers of the USA. His greatness lies in the fact that he has been the first and the only nonpartisan political leader and the president of the USA.

George Washington is even credited for the victory of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War.

Dalai Lama (1935-present)

Being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is listed among the great leaders of the world. He was born on 6th July 1935 to a farming family in a small town in Tibet.

For more than 50 years, he has been tirelessly campaigning for non-violence, peace, and democracy.

Also Read: Learn the Timeless Teachings of the Dalai Lama

Julias Caesar (100B.C.- 44B.C.)

Gaius Julius Caesar was a revolutionary personality of the historic times whose life has been romanticized by the famous William Shakespeare himself through his works. He is arguably the most popular Roman politician and a reputed writer of famous Latin prose.

His legacy can be estimated from the fact that his name is synonymous with leadership, and the month of July is named after him.

Franklin D Roosevelt (1882 – 1945)

Franklin D. Roosevelt, often known as FDR, was an American political leader who guided and assisted his country during some of its darkest years, such as the Great Depression. FDR’s leadership teachings are still applicable for business executives today, even more than 80 years later, especially those leading a company through difficult circumstances.

Roosevelt had polio at the age of 29, leaving him crippled in both legs. Nonetheless, he was elected President in 1933, and he is the only President who has been elected four times in a row until he died in 1945. He has shown enormous personal courage every day of his life.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780 – 1839)

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, also known as the “Lion of Punjab” or “Sher-e-Punjab,” was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, which controlled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early part of the nineteenth century. Afghan invasions, chronic infighting among Punjab’s numerous sovereign kingdoms, and the impending prospect of British expansion had left the province politically unstable, economically weak, and religiously divided by the time Ranjit Singh was born in 1780.

All of this changed with the ascension of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. During his rule, Punjab and Northwest India experienced a golden era. Though a devout Sikh who spearheaded an effort to repair his religion’s main sites, notably the Harmandir Sahib or “Golden Temple” in Amritsar, he also went to considerable pains to protect religious freedom inside his borders.

People from all walks of life, religions, and castes were engaged in his empire’s modernized army and administration. Infrastructure was renovated, trade was opened and developed, and the arts flourished under his rule.

Asoka (304 BC – 232 BC)

Ashoka, or Asoka, was another Gupta dynasty Emperor of India who was given the title of ‘The Great.’ He was the grandson of the Gupta dynasty’s founder, Chandragupta Maurya. Asoka the Great was the last emperor of the Maurya empire, ruling from 269 BC. He, too, made significant conquests, and his kingdom included nearly the whole Indian subcontinent.

Today, he is recognized as a prominent Buddhist advocate who preached Buddhist principles and lessons from Buddha’s life to the people.

Alexander The Great (356 BC – 323 BC)

Alexander the Great, often known as the “Man Who Conquered the World,” is widely regarded as the greatest military leader of all time. His leadership style, great presence of mind, battles, and vision are still being praised in the books of history. He was born in 356 BC and controlled the greatest empire in history by the age of 33, stretching from Greece to Egypt to India.

He was the King of Macedonia, and he was maybe the finest military leader that ever lived. He accomplished the great feat of uniting numerous Greek city-states. He was unbeaten in combat until he died of malaria in 323 BC.

Bill Gates (1955 – Present)

Another personality on our list of great leaders in the world is someone who is an inspiration for all innovators. Bill Gates is an American billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist whose vision and leadership have inspired an entire generation of innovators. Bill didn’t see his first computer at school until he was 13 years old. He paid to use it, and when his money ran out, he hacked into the computer and used it for free. You might argue that young Bill was destined for an imaginative and innovative career in IT at this time.

He had previously established a company with his friend Paul Allen when he was 15 years old. They had no idea that just 5 years later, they would be altering the way the world does business and even communicates. He restructured and gave birth to contemporary IT, which is being used by millions of people all over the world. For more than two decades, Gates has consistently been listed among the world’s wealthiest individuals, and in 2016, Forbes surpassed this by rating him as the world’s richest man.

Also Read: Education of Bill Gates: Interesting Facts

List of Top Leaders in the World

Name	Designation	Approval Rating
Narendra Modi	Prime Minister of India	71%
Andrés Manuel López Obrador	President of Mexico	66%
Mario Draghi	Prime Minister of Italy	60%
Fumio Kishida	Prime Minister of Japan	48%
Olaf Scholz	Chancellor of Germany	44%
Justin Trudeau	Prime Minister of Canada	43%
Scott Morrison	Prime Minister of Australia	41%
Pedro Sánchez	Prime Minister of Spain	40%
Moon Jae-in	President of South Korea	38%
Jair Bolsonaro	President of Brazil	37%
Emmanuel Macron	President of France	34%
Boris Johnson	Prime Minister of the UK	26%

Free PDF on Great Leaders of the World

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