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About this quote

What does it mean?
Bureaucracies naturally tend to prioritize rigid rules and formalities over practical wisdom.
In plain terms
Bureaucracies often become obsessed with rules instead of results.
What can you take from it?
Expect bureaucracies to favor procedure over common sense.

Where it applies

  • government administration
  • corporate management
  • institutional critique

Putting it to work

  • Watch for rule obsession
  • Prioritize outcomes over process

Questions to consider

  • Is this process serving a purpose or just existing?
  • Does this rule help or hinder?

Another view

Some structure is necessary for large organizations to function.

More from John Stuart Mill

  1. Whenever the general disposition of the people is such, that each individual regards those only of his interests which are selfish, and does not dwell on, or c…

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  2. Among a people without fellow-feeling, especially if they read and speak different languages, the united public opinion, necessary to the working of the repres…

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  3. To think that because those who wield power in society wield in the end that of government, therefore it is of no use to attempt to influence the constitution …

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