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The biggest issue in this election is something called flip-flopping, and all candidates are accused of doing it. A strong leader is expected to maintain steadfast resolve in his opinion even if the environment changes or he gets new information. In any other context, that would be considered the first sign of a brain tumor. When presidents do it, it's called leadership, and frankly, we can't get enough of it.

Scott Adams#7

CulturePoliticsLeadership

About this quote

What does it mean?
Adams satirically claims that flip‑flopping is praised in leaders but seen as a sign of illness elsewhere.
In plain terms
Changing opinions is praised in politics but considered a flaw in other fields.
What can you take from it?
Recognize double standards in how flexibility is judged.

Where it applies

  • political analysis
  • organizational behavior

Putting it to work

  • question consistency standards
  • evaluate context before judging

Questions to consider

  • Why do we accept inconsistency in leaders?
  • When is consistency harmful?

Another view

Some flexibility is essential for good decision‑making.

More from Scott Adams

  1. If there is one thing that our role models in this election have taught us, it's that omitting important information is completely different from lying.

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  2. Just because no one has ever gotten better from Spasmodic Dysphonia before doesn't mean I can't be the first.

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  3. As you know, the best way to solve a problem is to identify the core belief that causes the problem; then mock that belief until the people who hold it insist …

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