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About this quote

What does it mean?
Government systems tend to promote the least worthy to leadership positions.
In plain terms
Bad people often end up running the government.
What can you take from it?
Expect corruption in bureaucratic systems.

Where it applies

  • political analysis
  • institutional critique

Putting it to work

  • reform hiring practices

Questions to consider

  • Why do unqualified people get power?
  • How can we fix hiring?

Another view

Meritocracy can exist with proper checks.

More from Friedrich Hayek

  1. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say history is largely a history of inflation, usually inflations engineered by governments for the gain of governments.

    Permalink to quote #142
  2. It is always from a minority acting in ways different from what the majority would prescribe that the majority in the end learns to do better.

    Permalink to quote #144
  3. From the saintly and single-minded idealist to the fanatic is often but a step.

    Permalink to quote #141

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