Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- It is hard to tell if leaders are competent pranksters or incompetent people causing real harm.
- In plain terms
- Is the world managed by smart people joking or by fools being serious?
- What can you take from it?
- Leadership often looks equally absurd whether intentional or accidental.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Are leaders joking or clueless?
- Does it matter if the result is the same?
Another view
It offers no solution to the problem.
More from Mark Twain
Only presidents, editors and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial 'we'.
Permalink to quote #182 Substitute 'damn' every time you're inclined to write 'very'; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.
Permalink to quote #184 Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.
Permalink to quote #181
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