How to Run a Government Quotes

“Crises will come and go in all countries, more often in some than in others; at these moments, someone has to lead, has to make sure that while the crisis is addressed, it doesn’t overwhelm the pre-existing agenda for change. Allow that, and failure beckons. Hence Harold Macmillan’s famous lament about why he had not achieved more: ‘Events, dear boy! Events.”
― Michael Barber, How to Run A Government: So that Citizens Benefit and Taxpayers Don't Go Crazy

“George Bernard Shaw made the point best: ‘The reasonable man adapts himself to the conditions that surround him … The unreasonable man adapts the surrounding conditions to himself … All progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
― Michael Barber, How to Run A Government: So that Citizens Benefit and Taxpayers Don't Go Crazy

“UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL DRIVERS OF CHANGE (and base your plan on them) PREPARE A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT YOUR STRATEGY THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH TO GET STARTED (and don’t make concessions for a quiet life) STRENGTHEN THE DELIVERY CHAIN (don’t think you can get away without doing so”
― Michael Barber, How to Run A Government: So that Citizens Benefit and Taxpayers Don't Go Crazy