The man whose life is devoted to paperwork has lost the initiative. He is dealing with things that are brought to his notice, having ceased to notice anything for himself.
C. Northcote ParkinsonRead
The chief product of an automated society is a widespread and deepening sense of boredom.
Interpretation
Automation can lead to a loss of engagement and excitement in life.
C. Northcote Parkinson's quote reflects on the consequences of an automated society, suggesting that while technology and automation can simplify tasks, they also risk creating a sense of ennui and disconnection among individuals. This commentary highlights the importance of human engagement and the potential pitfalls of over-reliance on technology, emphasizing that in the quest for efficiency, we may lose the vibrancy of life.
In practice
In a speech about the impact of technological advances on daily life.
The man whose life is devoted to paperwork has lost the initiative. He is dealing with things that are brought to his notice, having ceased to notice anything for himself.
The man who is denied the opportunity of taking decisions of importance begins to regard as important the decisions he is allowed to take.
Delay is the deadliest form of denial.
Parkinson's First Law: Work expands to fill the time available.
life is a loaded gun that looks right at you with a yellow eye.
The problem of freedom in America is that of maintaining a competition of ideas, and you do not achieve that by silencing one brand of idea.
Whoever, then, thinks that he understands the Holy Scriptures, or any part of them, but puts such an interpretation upon them as does not tend to build up this twofold love of God and our neighbor, does not yet understand them as he ought.
I was not born for one corner. The whole world is my native land.
Among those who share a throne there can be no loyalty; Dominion's ever impatient consort.
Man is the highest being that exists, and this is the greatest world.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.