"The disease which inflicts bureaucracy and what they usually die from is routine"
- John Stuart Mill
About this Quote
John Stuart Mill's quote is a criticism of administration and the method it can suppress imagination and development. He suggests that bureaucracy is a disease that can result in stagnancy and death. He implies that bureaucracy is a kind of mental disorder, where individuals end up being so entrenched in their regimens that they become not able to think outside the box and come up with new ideas. This can result in an absence of development and progress, and ultimately, the death of the administration. Mill's quote is a warning to those in positions of power to be knowledgeable about the dangers of administration and to strive to keep their minds available to new ideas and possibilities. He recommends that if administration is allowed to take hold, it can result in an absence of progress and eventually, death.
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