Probably Apochryphal Quote

 “There are only four types of officers.

First, there are the lazy, stupid ones. Leave them alone, they do no harm.

Second, there are the hard-working intelligent ones. They make excellent staff officers, ensuring that every detail is properly considered.

Third, there are the hard-working, stupid ones. These people are a menace, and must be fired at once. They create irrelevant work for everybody.

Finally, there are the intelligent lazy ones. They are suited for the highest office.” 

 

--Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord, maybe.

 

I vaguely remembered this, so I Googled it up after I was complaining about idiots at work the other day.

 

I think the modern (non-military) version is

 

Stupid/Lazy: "Promote" into some pointless job so they're out of the way (and do no harm.)

 

Hard-working/intelligent:  Either get fed up and leave, or burnt out and go nuts.

 

Hard-working/stupid: MIDDLE MANAGEMENT, BABY!

 

Intelligent/Lazy: These are the people who've been at the company for 20 years, still are officially near the bottom of the totem pole, and secretly run everything. 

Chuck Jones' Road Runner Rules (1999)

1. "The Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going 'Beep-Beep!'"

2. "No outside force can harm the Coyote — only his own ineptitude or the failure of the Acme products."

3. "The Coyote could stop anytime — if he were not a fanatic. (Repeat: 'A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim.' — George Santayana)."

4. "No dialogue ever, except 'Beep-Beep!'"

5. "The Road Runner must stay on the road — otherwise, logically, he would not be called a Road Runner."

6. "All action must be confined to the natural environment of the two characters — the southwest American desert."

7. "All materials, tools, weapons, or mechanical conveniences, must be obtained from the Acme Corporation."

8. "Whenever possible, make gravity the Coyote's greatest enemy."

9."The Coyote is always more humiliated than harmed by his failures."

Saw Coyote vs Acme tonight.

That's all folks! 

We looked did "The Man In The Arena" at work today.

 The lesson was complete nonsense, since the guy who made the lesson is either a total asshole or so dumb he doesn't realize he's a total asshole, but it's still cool when something from the blog shows up elsewhere.

Also, weird to think about it, but Teddy was president when T5FSOB was originally published.

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 4 62-79 (Of the Government of Thoughts)

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 4 62-79 (Of the Government of Thoughts)

Bonus: 

THINK!

Summary: Thinking is hard work.

Commentary:

66. To this also is to be attributed the imperfect Knowledge we have of Things, and the slow Progress we make in attaining to a Better; like the Children of Israel that were forty Years upon their Journey, from Egypt to Canaan, which might have been performed in Less than One.

It's amazing how much easier it is to learn a ton of depth about something once you've got the basics down.

69. Always remember to bound thy Thoughts to the present Occasion.

70. If it be thy Religious Duty, suffer nothing else to Share in them. And if any Civil or Temporal Affair, observe the same Caution, and thou wilt be a whole Man to every Thing, and do twice the Business in the same Time.

Multitasking is bullshit.

 

 

 

 

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 3 52-62 (The Wise Man)

 More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 52-62 (The Wise Man)

Bonus: 

This was my Scoutmaster's favorite thing to say to smartass teenagers.

Summary: Once again, fuck Nietzsche. 

Commentary:  

52. The Wise Man Governs himself by the Reason of his Case, and because what he does is Best: Best, in a Moral and Prudent, not a Sinister Sense.

This just makes me think of someone coming up with an elaborate evil plan and then going, "Wait, too sinister!" at the last minute.

56. To do Evil, that Good may come of it, is for Bunglers in Politicks, as well as Morals.

We're back on this again.

60. He is never Captious, nor Critical; hates Banter and Jests: He may be Pleasant, but not Light; he never deals but in Substantial Ware, and leaves the rest for the Toy Pates (or Shops) of the World; which are so far from being his Business, that they are not so much as his Diversion.

I will never be a wise man. I can't give up my Banter and Jests.

 

 

 

 

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 2 14-51 (The World’s Able Man)

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 2 14-51 (The World’s Able Man)

Bonus: 

 

The Ablest Squad

Summary: Be honest.

Commentary: I liked the shorter entries in Part 1 better. 40ish on one gets excessive.

50. Art thou a Magistrate? Prefer such as have clean Characters where they live, and of Estates to secure a just Discharge of their Trusts; that are under no Temptation to strain Points for a Fortune: For sometimes such may be found, sooner than they are Employed.  

We already went over this! 

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 1 Intro-13 (Intro and The Right Moralist)

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 1 Intro-13 (Intro and The Right Moralist)

Bonus: 

 

Double the large plastic geese!

Summary: But wait, there's more!

Commentary:

3. They think it enough, not to defraud a Man of his Pay, or betray his Friend; but never consider, That the Law forbids the one at his Peril, and that Virtue is seldom the Reason of the other.

This is a bit more selective than part one.

4. But certainly he that Covets, can no more be a Moral Man, than he that Steals; since he does so in his Mind. Nor can he be one that Robs his Neighbor of his Credit, or that craftily undermines him of his Trade or Office.

Apparently resisting temptation isn't good enough anymore.