Princes of This World

Is it entirely an illusion to believe that one could contribute more to an organization than one is allowed to do? Is management invariably right? Perhaps, but airplanes are hijacked, buildings are flown into, dikes fail, wars are lost, laws are broken, thousands or millions die, while careers are made. It is not unusual at retirement functions to hear the retiree say, “This is the best organization I’ve ever worked in, with the best people.” Two thousand years ago the world was judged. Many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

See Robert W. Komer, Bureaucracy Does Its Thing: Institutional Constraints on U.S.-GVN Performance in Vietnam.