I suppose that leadership at one time meant muscle; but today it means getting along with people.

The quote draws a sharp line between two conceptions of power: “muscle” symbolizes brute force, intimidation, or sheer command, while “getting along with people” points to emotional intelligence, negotiation, and the ability to work through disagreement. Gandhi suggests that effective leadership has evolved with modern society’s interdependence—leaders must coordinate rather than simply compel. The statement also implies that legitimacy increasingly depends on relationships: trust, communication, and the capacity to reconcile competing interests. In leadership terms, it elevates social skill and political tact as forms of strength, reframing authority as something sustained through human cooperation rather than domination.