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There may often be excuse for doing things poorly in this…

“There may often be excuse for doing things poorly in this world, but there is never any excuse for calling a poorly done thing, well done.” quote by W. E. B. Du Bois
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“There may often be excuse for doing things poorly in this world, but there is never any excuse for calling a poorly done thing, well done.”

W. E. B. Du Bois

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Excuses for poor effort are common, but praising subpar work is never justified.

In simple terms: Don't excuse bad work, and don't praise it.

Key Takeaway

Uphold high standards.

Themes

standards integrity excellence

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

ethical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • project management
  • education
  • public policy
  • art criticism

Key Concepts

quality leadership

Questions to Reflect On

  • When is it acceptable to praise imperfect work?
  • How do you differentiate effort from outcome?
A Different Perspective

Critics may argue that context matters for evaluation.

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