University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Academic politics are harsh because the issues involved are trivial compared to real-world stakes.
- In plain terms
- University fights are intense because the goals are small.
- What can you take from it?
- Small stakes often lead to disproportionately large conflicts.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do small issues cause big fights?
- What counts as a small stake?
Another view
It downplays the real impact university decisions can have on students.
More from Henry Kissinger
To be absolutely certain about something, one must know everything or nothing about it.
Permalink to quote #53 Whatever must happen ultimately should happen immediately.
Permalink to quote #55 There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.
Permalink to quote #52
Related quotes
It is absurd to believe in the possibility of perpetual peace...Fascist education must be education for battle. Fascism believes in sanctity and heroism.
Achille StaraceAchille Starace quote #3 The time has come to educate people, to cease all quarrels in the name of religion, culture, countries, different political or economic systems. Fighting is us…
Tenzin Gyatso (Dalai Lama)Tenzin Gyatso (Dalai Lama) quote #29 The time has come to educate people, to cease all quarrels in the name of religion, culture, countries, different political or economic systems. Fighting is us…
Tenzin GyatsoTenzin Gyatso quote #29