Nothing ever gets settled in this town. a seething debating society in which the debate never stops, in which people never give up, including me. And so that's the atmosphere in which you administer.
George P. ShultzRead
If they are too big to fail, make them smaller.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that entities deemed 'too big to fail' should be reduced in size to prevent future crises.
George P. Shultz's quote addresses the concept of 'too big to fail' institutions, implying that when organizations reach such a size that their failure could lead to significant economic turmoil, it is prudent to take steps to diminish their size and, consequently, their impact on the economy. By advocating for making these entities smaller, the quote highlights the importance of creating a balance that prevents systemic risk, suggesting that size can lead to irresponsibility and fragility.
Themes
EconomyRiskSizeInstitutionsFailure
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about financial regulations, one might quote this to emphasize the need for limiting the growth of major institutions.
More from George P. Shultz
All quotes βHe who walks in the middle of the roads gets hit from both sides.
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The minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost.
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What we want is scientists who don't become part of the policy discussion: All they do is produce science. If someone becomes an advocate, then I won't pay as much attention to their science.
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I want my grandchildren to be proud of me. That's the main thing.
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Increasingly, the state system has been eroding. Terrorists have exploited this weakness by burrowing into the state system in order to attack it.
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