The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
Any government will work if authority and responsibility are equal and coordinate. This does not insure “good” government, it simply insures that it will work. But such governments are rare — most people want to run things, but want no part of the blame. This used to be called the “backseat driver” syndrome.
Interpretation
Effective governance requires a balance between authority and responsibility.
In this quote, Robert A. Heinlein emphasizes that for a government or organization to function effectively, there must be a clear balance between the authority given to leaders and the responsibility they hold for their actions. However, he notes that many people desire power without accepting the accountability that comes with it, which leads to ineffective governance often referred to as the 'backseat driver' syndrome.
In practice
In a debate about political accountability, this quote could illustrate the importance of equal authority and responsibility.
The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
An armed society is a polite society.
Democracy is a poor system of government at best; the only thing that can honestly be said in its favor is that it is eight times as good as any other method the human race has ever tried.
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Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things.
When a place gets crowded enough to require ID's, social collapse is not far away. It is time to go elsewhere. The best thing about space travel is that it made it possible to go elsewhere.
A company is people … employees want to know… am I being listened to or am I a cog in the wheel? People really need to feel wanted.
You don't lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership.
To get others to come into our ways of thinking, we must go over to theirs; and it is necessary to follow, in order to lead.
Football strategy does not originate in a scrimmage: it is useless to expect solutions in a political campaign.
It is not enough to have a talented designer; the management must be inspired too. The creative process is very disorganised; the production process has to be very rational.
By nature, I am a unifier. I am a builder of consensus. I don't believe in sloppy compromise. But I do believe in bringing people together.
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