"Those who govern, having much business on their hands, do not generally like to take the trouble of considering and carrying into execution new projects. The best public measures are therefore seldom adopted from previous wisdom, but forced by the occasion"
- Benjamin Franklin
About this Quote
This quote by Benjamin Franklin speaks with the difficulty of enacting meaningful change in government. He suggests that those in power are often too busy to put in the time to think about and carry out new tasks. This means that the very best public measures are not usually the result of mindful preparation and insight, however rather are forced by the circumstances of the moment. This implies that the most reliable services are often the result of responding to a situation rather than proactively planning for it. Franklin's quote highlights the significance of having the ability to respond quickly and efficiently to changing conditions in order to enact meaningful change. It also acts as a suggestion that those in power need to want to take the time to consider and execute new tasks, as this is typically the only method to guarantee that the very best public measures are adopted.
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