Character, Knowledge and Application

"Just as the diamond requires three properties for its formation--carbon, heat, and pressure--successful leaders require the interaction of three properties--character, knowledge, and application. Like carbon to the diamond, character is the basic quality of the leader. But as carbon alone does not create a diamond, neither can character alone create a leader. The diamond needs heat. Man needs knowledge, study, and preparation. The third property, pressure--acting in conjunction with carbon and heat--forms the diamond. Similarly, one's character, attended by knowledge, blooms through application to produce a leader."

- General Edward C. Meyer, Former US Army Chief of Staff