Change based on principle is progress. Constant change without principle becomes chaos.
Interpretation
Progress requires change that is guided by principled values, while change without a solid foundation leads to disorder.
In this quote, Dwight D. Eisenhower emphasizes the importance of having a strong set of principles as a foundation for any change we pursue. Without these guiding principles, our changes may lead to chaos and instability rather than productive advancement, highlighting the necessity of thoughtful, principled decision-making in the face of inevitable change.
In practice
In a leadership seminar discussing the need for principled decision-making in organizations.
If a man's associates find him guilty of being phony, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose.
The libraries of America are and must ever remain the home of free and inquiring minds. To them, our citizens-of all ages and races, of all creeds and persuasions-must be able to turn with clear confidence that there they can freely seek the whole truth, unvarnished by fashion and uncompromised by expediency.
You don't lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership.
When pressure mounts and strain increases everyone begins to show the weaknesses in his makeup. It is up to the Commander to conceal his: above all to conceal doubt, fear, and distrust.
Some years ago I became president of Columbia University and learned within 24 hours to be ready to speak at the drop of a hat, and I learned something more, the trustees were expected to be ready to speak at the passing of the hat.
I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.
We have to understand what the older generation has dealt to us, what mess they have created that we have to clean up and live with.
I realized that if I don't like something, I can change it. If I don't feel comfortable with something, then I have a voice to say it's not cool.
The information revolution has changed people's perception of wealth. We originally said that land was wealth. Then we thought it was industrial production. Now we realize it's intellectual capital. The market is showing us that intellectual capital is far more important that money. This is a major change in the way the world works. the same thing that happened to the farmers during the Industrial Revolution is now happening to people in industry as we move into the information age.
From this vision of the role of the United Nations in the next century flow three key priorities for the future: eradicating poverty, preventing conflict and promoting democracy.
They have eliminated rigidity, both physical and psychological, in order to support more fluid processes whereby temporary teams are created to deal with specific and ever-changing needs. They have simplified roles into minimal categories; they have knocked down walls and created workplaces where people, ideas, and information circulate freely.
I have a magnificent obsession. All I want to do is change the world ...make it a better place for this and future generations.
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