Expansion means complexity and complexity decay. C. Northcote Parkinson More Quotes by C. Northcote Parkinson More Quotes From C. Northcote Parkinson People of great ability do not emerge, as a rule, from the happiest background. So far as my own observation goes, I would conclude that ability, although hereditary, is improved by an early measure of adversity and improved again by a later measure of success. C. Northcote Parkinson observationadversitypeople Imagination is essential and it comes first, for without imagination we are aimless. C. Northcote Parkinson essentialsimaginationfirsts Deliberative bodies become decreasingly effective after they pass five to eight members. C. Northcote Parkinson memberseightbody The man who is denied the opportunity of taking decisions of importance begins to regard as important the decisions he is allowed to take. He becomes fussy about filing, keen on seeing that pencils are sharpened, eager to ensure that the windows are open (or shut) and apt to use two or three different-colored inks. C. Northcote Parkinson opportunitymentwo The basic quality for the diplomat is not intelligence but loyalty. C. Northcote Parkinson diplomatsqualityloyalty The matters most debated in a deliberative body tend to be the minor ones where everybody understands the issues. C. Northcote Parkinson issuesbodymatter The smaller the function, the greater the management. C. Northcote Parkinson functiongreatermanagement Where life is colorful and varied, religion can be austere or unimportant. Where life is appallingly monotonous, religion must be emotional, dramatic and intense. Without the curry, boiled rice can be very dull. C. Northcote Parkinson emotionallifereligion In the foundation and development of a successful enterprise there must be a single-minded pursuit of financial profit. C. Northcote Parkinson foundationbusinesssuccessful It is now well known, however, that men enter local politics solely as a result of being unhappily married. C. Northcote Parkinson funny-marriagemarriedmen The nice thing about standards is, there are so many to choose from. Work expands to fill the time available for its completion. C. Northcote Parkinson availablestandardsnice Parkinson's Law is a purely scientific discovery, inapplicable except in theory to the politics of the day. It is not the business of the botanist to eradicate the weeds. Enough for him if he can tell us just how fast they grow. C. Northcote Parkinson weeddiscoveryscience It is the busiest man who has time to spare. C. Northcote Parkinson sparesmen The onset of one religion can be resisted only by another. C. Northcote Parkinson politicspolitical A committee grows organically, flourishes and blossoms, sunlit on top and shady beneath, until it dies, scattering the seeds from which other committees will spring. C. Northcote Parkinson shadycommitteesspring The mind reels at the multiplication of books intended to justify the author's promotion from assistant to associate professor. C. Northcote Parkinson mindeducationbook It is better to be a has-been than a never-was. C. Northcote Parkinson has-beenthanbetter In politics people give you what they think you deserve and deny you what they think you want. C. Northcote Parkinson thinkyoupoliticspeople
