October 1, 2025

Guidelines for bureaucrats: (1) When in charge, ponder. (2) When in trouble, delegate. (3) When in doubt, mumble.

James Boren (1925–2010), American bureaucrat and humorist, The New York Times, 8 November 1970, Jay p.52

Do you understand that the bureaucrats really run the show, and that you are only there to take the blame when anything goes wrong?

Something always goes wrong, and you will own it.