The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last… — Max De Pree | Printable Wall Art

“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you.”

Words by Max De Pree (1924-2017) — Business executive and author.

About this quote

This quote outlines the core duties of genuine leadership. Defining reality means offering clarity, honesty, and a clear vision of current circumstances without deceit or sugarcoating. Expressing gratitude at the end recognises that success relies on the collective efforts of the team. Leaders must start with truth and end with appreciation, creating a culture built on trust, accountability, and mutual respect.

Max De Pree published this well-known insight in his 1989 book, Leadership Is an Art. As the longtime chief executive of furniture maker Herman Miller, he advocated for human-centred business management and servant leadership.

People often hang this print in an executive office or study to encourage thoughtful management and gratitude.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 18 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Tracked Caps Unsigned · Editorial Justified

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.