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About this quote

What does it mean?
Repeated violations of sacred norms eventually become normalized as part of the system.
In plain terms
When bad things happen often, we accept them as normal.
What can you take from it?
Normalization of harm makes it part of the routine.

Where it applies

  • corrupt organizations
  • repeated scandals
  • bureaucratic drift

Putting it to work

  • monitoring rule changes
  • questioning accepted practices

Questions to consider

  • What harms have become normal to you?
  • When did a violation become routine?

Another view

Some traditions are beneficial and not all repetition implies corruption.

More from Franz Kafka

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  3. It is your people who make the ultimate difference. You put the investment into training the people and then, when you get invited to the party with the big bo…

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