What you cannot enforce, do not command.
Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Leaders should not give orders that they cannot ensure will be followed.
- In plain terms
- Do not command people to do things you cannot force them to do.
- What can you take from it?
- Only issue commands you can enforce.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What gives you authority?
- Do your commands have weight?
Another view
It assumes coercion is the only way to enforce commands.
More from Socrates
What a lot of things there are a man can do without.
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