Atlas of Management Thinking Quotes

“DESTRUCTIVE ARGUMENTS I am not sure which is the more enjoyable: to win an argument or to annihilate the opponent. Instead of building a case for ourselves we attack the opponent or his case. Attack is rather easy. We choose our frame of reference and attack something for not fitting it. We can attack an orange for not being an apple. No matter what is being done we attack it for not being enough. No matter how worthwhile a project seems we attack it for the hidden and sinister purposes behind it. If something is done that benefits a particular group then that group is being bribed or bought off. If something is couched in general terms then it is too vague and ill-defined. If something is popular then people are being conned. If something is unpopular then it is being forced on people. If something stops early then there is lack of persistence. If something is carried on then it is flogging a dead horse or blind ambition. The most curious thing is that we actually esteem this sort of thinking and consider it clever instead of facile.”
― Edward de Bono, Atlas of Management Thinking