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About this quote

What does it mean?
Small deviations from duty can lead to large unintended consequences.
In plain terms
Even small slips in duty can spiral out of control.
What can you take from it?
Consistency in duty prevents bigger failures.

Where it applies

  • military orders
  • ethical decisions
  • policy making

Putting it to work

  • stick to protocol
  • evaluate small choices

Questions to consider

  • When does a small choice matter?
  • How do you maintain discipline?

Another view

Rigid adherence can ignore necessary exceptions.

More from Lois McMaster Bujold

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  2. East is west, up is down, and being falsely arrested for getting your C.O.'s throat cut is a simplification. I must be on Barrayar.

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  3. I could take over the universe with this army if I could ever get all their weapons pointed in the same direction.

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