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In fact, let us not mince words: the management is terrible! We've had a string of embezzlers, frauds, liars, and lunatics making a string of catastrophic decisions. This is plain fact. But who elected them? It was you! You who appointed these people! You who gave them the power to make decisions for you! While I'll admit that anyone can make a mistake once, to go on making the same lethal errors century after century seems to me to be nothing short of deliberate. You have encouraged these malicious incompetents, who have made your working life a shambles. You have accepted without question their senseless orders. You have allowed them to fill your workplace with dangerous and unproven machines. All you had to say was 'No.' You have no spine. You have no pride. You are no longer an asset to the company.

Alan Moore#23

AccountabilityLeadershipResponsibilityWorkplace

About this quote

What does it mean?
Workers are criticized for allowing incompetent management to take power.
In plain terms
You let bad leaders get power, so you share the blame.
What can you take from it?
You are responsible for the leaders you accept.

Where it applies

  • workplace issues
  • political apathy
  • organizational failures

Putting it to work

  • demanding accountability
  • questioning leaders
  • refusing complicity

Questions to consider

  • Where does responsibility lie?
  • How do we hold leaders accountable?

Another view

It blames victims for systemic issues.

More from Alan Moore

  1. When you find yourself locked onto an unpleasant train of thought, heading for the places in your past where the screaming is unbearable, remember there's alwa…

    Permalink to quote #22
  2. Did you think to kill me? There's no flesh and blood within this cloak to kill. There is only an idea. Ideas are bulletproof.

    Permalink to quote #24
  3. We're all puppets, Laurie. I'm just a puppet who can see the strings.

    Permalink to quote #21

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