Ultimately we may still ask, why can't humans design a perfect society? Robert Shea More Quotes by Robert Shea More Quotes From Robert Shea Anyone who seeks power wants absolute power. Robert Shea wantsanyonewhopower You are attached to what you attack. Robert Shea attachedattackyou The key element in tragedy is that heroes and heroines are destroyed by that which appears to be their greatest strength. Robert Shea keyheroesstrengthtragedy As such people achieve influence within the organization, whenever there is a conflict between their own interest and the interest of the organization, their interests will win out. Robert Shea winconflictorganizationpeople But instead I usually say that, though it may surprise them, I too believe in the necessity of organization. Robert Shea saysurpriseorganizationbelieve Indeed, if our ancestors of millions of years ago hadn't learned how to care for one another and hunt in packs, they'd all have ended up being eaten by leopards. Robert Shea ancestorshowbeingcare Of all human inventions the organization, a machine constructed of people performing interdependent functions, is the most powerful. Robert Shea humanpowerfulorganizationpeople Even while we busily attend meetings, contribute money and perform our assigned tasks, we suspect that we may be helping to create a force that is inimical to many values we hold dear. Robert Shea createvaluesmeetingsmoney To reject even one major tenet of the religion or to violate one major rule of behavior is enough to get one kicked out - or worse. Robert Shea worsebehaviorenoughreligion Organized religion provides a model of the way all organizations, from the state down to the village garden club, end a price in terms of a member's freedom of thought and action. Robert Shea villagefreedomwayreligion The Gnostics were rapidly driven out of business by the hierarchical orthodox Christians. Robert Shea outweredrivenbusiness Just as predatory animals follow a similar general design and behave in similar ways, so organizations, especially those in competition with one another, must follow certain design principles if they are to succeed and prevail. Robert Shea followcompetitionsucceeddesign Military organization, like religious organization, can be seen as a paradigm of organization in general. Robert Shea seenlikeorganizationmilitary Indeed, one of the most successful and influential religious organizations in history, the Society of Jesus, was consciously modeled along military lines by its founder, Ignatius Loyola. Robert Shea societymilitarysuccessfulhistory That the more authoritarian organizations survive and prevail goes generally unnoticed because people focus on the objectives of organizations, which are many and varied, rather than on their structures, which lend to be similar. Robert Shea survivemorefocuspeople But the more an organization succeeds and prospers, the more it is likely to be diverted from its original ideals, principles and purposes. Robert Shea originalmoreorganizationprinciples Every combination of two or more human beings has both a useful aspect and a political aspect. Robert Shea humanmorepoliticaltwo Because the better an organization is at fulfilling its purpose, the more it attracts people who see the organization as an opportunity to advance themselves. Robert Shea betterpurposeopportunitypeople The ability to get ahead in an organization is simply another talent, like the ability to play chess, paint pictures, do coronary bypass operations or pick pockets. Robert Shea picturesaheadtalentorganization It often happens that when a person possesses a particular ability to an extraordinary degree, nature makes up for it by leaving him or her incompetent in every other department. Robert Shea personabilityleavingnature
