--- title: "6 Critical Quotes By Peter Drucker" description: "6 Critical quotes by Peter Drucker. Plus more from Peter Drucker and more Critical sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/peter-drucker-393_achieve_the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-a_49515.png" --- > [The critical question is not "How can I achieve?" but "What can I contribute?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-achieve-but-what-can-i/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/peter-drucker-393_achieve_the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-a_49515.png) > [Few relationships are as critical to the business enterprise as the relationship to the government. Managers have responsibility for this relationship as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the-business-enterprise-as-the/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/peter-drucker-393_business_few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the_433389.jpg) > [To arrive at the definition of the problem he must begin by finding the 'critical factor'. This is the element (or elements)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/to-arrive-at-the-definition-of-the-problem-he-must-begin-by-finding/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/peter-drucker-393_change_to-arrive-at-the-definition-of-the-probl_1775802.jpg) > [Few relationships are as critical to the business enterprise itself as the relationship to government. The manager has responsibility for this relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the-business-enterprise-itself/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/peter-drucker-393_business_few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the_2254208.png) > [The most critical case in a corporation, especially a big one, is when everything goes well, when you have accomplished your objectives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-most-critical-case-in-a-corporation-especially-a-big-one-is-when/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/peter-drucker-393_accomplished_the-most-critical-case-in-a-corporation_2810394.png) > [The critical factor of a problem is the element that has to be changed before anything else can be changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-critical-factor-of-a-problem-is-the-element-that-has-to-be/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/peter-drucker-393_changed_the-critical-factor-of-a-problem-is-the_3172781.png) ## Other authors on Critical ## More by Peter Drucker > [One reason for the tremendous increase in health-care costs in the U.S. is managerial neglect of the "hotel services" by the people who dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/one-reason-for-the-tremendous-increase-in-health-care-costs-in-the-u/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [No executive has ever suffered because his subordinates were strong and effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/no-executive-has-ever-suffered-because-his-subordinates-were-strong/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Results is all that separates one company from another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/results-is-all-that-separates-one-company-from-another/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. Peter Drucker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-is-nothing-so-useless-as-doing-efficiently-that-which-should/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Our society has become an employee society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/our-society-has-become-an-employee-society/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Replace your pursuit of success with the pursuit of contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/replace-your-pursuit-of-success-with-the-pursuit-of-contribution/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/management-means-in-the-last-analysis-the-substitution-of-thought-for/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Don't try to innovate for the future. Innovate for the present!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/don-t-try-to-innovate-for-the-future-innovate-for-the-present/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The critical question is not "How can I achieve?" but "What can I contribute?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-achieve-but-what-can-i/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [We can say with certainty - or 90% probability - that the new industries that are about to be born will have nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/we-can-say-with-certainty-or-90-probability-that-the-new-industries/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [When it rains manna from heaven, some people put up an umbrella. Others reach for a big spoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/when-it-rains-manna-from-heaven-some-people-put-up-an-umbrella-others/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The enterprise can fulfill its human and social functions only if it prospers as a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-enterprise-can-fulfill-its-human-and-social-functions-only-if-it/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The computer actually may have aggravated management's degenerative tendency to focus inward on costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-computer-actually-may-have-aggravated-management-s-degenerative/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Nobody can predict the future; the idea is to have a firm grasp of the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/nobody-can-predict-the-future-the-idea-is-to-have-a-firm-grasp-of-the/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [An executive should be a realist; and no one is less realistic than the cynic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/an-executive-should-be-a-realist-and-no-one-is-less-realistic-than/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/peter-drucker/#itemlist", "name": "6 Critical Quotes By Peter Drucker", "numberOfItems": 6, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The critical question is not \"How can I achieve?\" but \"What can I contribute?\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Drucker" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-achieve-but-what-can-i/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/peter-drucker-393_achieve_the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-a_49515.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/peter-drucker-393_achieve_the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-a_49515.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/peter-drucker-393_achieve_the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-a_49515.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The critical question is not \"How can I achieve?\" but \"What can I contribute?\"” — Peter Drucker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Few relationships are as critical to the business enterprise as the relationship to the government. Managers have responsibility for this relationship as part of their responsibility to the enterprise itself. It is an area of social impact of the business. To a large extent the relationship to government results from what businesses do or fail to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Drucker" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the-business-enterprise-as-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/peter-drucker-393_business_few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the_433389.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/peter-drucker-393_business_few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the_433389.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/peter-drucker-393_business_few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the_433389.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Few relationships are as critical to the business enterprise as the relationship to the government. Managers…” — Peter Drucker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To arrive at the definition of the problem he must begin by finding the 'critical factor'. This is the element (or elements) in the situation that has to be changed before anything else can be changed, moved, acted upon.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Drucker" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/to-arrive-at-the-definition-of-the-problem-he-must-begin-by-finding/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/peter-drucker-393_change_to-arrive-at-the-definition-of-the-probl_1775802.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/peter-drucker-393_change_to-arrive-at-the-definition-of-the-probl_1775802.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/peter-drucker-393_change_to-arrive-at-the-definition-of-the-probl_1775802.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To arrive at the definition of the problem he must begin by finding the 'critical factor'. This is the…” — Peter Drucker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Few relationships are as critical to the business enterprise itself as the relationship to government. The manager has responsibility for this relationship as part of his responsibility to the enterprise itself. To a large extent the relationship to government results from what businesses do or fail to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Drucker" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the-business-enterprise-itself/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/peter-drucker-393_business_few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the_2254208.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/peter-drucker-393_business_few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the_2254208.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06f/peter-drucker-393_business_few-relationships-are-as-critical-to-the_2254208.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Few relationships are as critical to the business enterprise itself as the relationship to government. The…” — Peter Drucker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most critical case in a corporation, especially a big one, is when everything goes well, when you have accomplished your objectives. When the temptation is to work twice as hard instead of saying, \"We have accomplished our objectives, we have to think again.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Drucker" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-most-critical-case-in-a-corporation-especially-a-big-one-is-when/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/peter-drucker-393_accomplished_the-most-critical-case-in-a-corporation_2810394.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/peter-drucker-393_accomplished_the-most-critical-case-in-a-corporation_2810394.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/peter-drucker-393_accomplished_the-most-critical-case-in-a-corporation_2810394.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most critical case in a corporation, especially a big one, is when everything goes well, when you have…” — Peter Drucker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The critical factor of a problem is the element that has to be changed before anything else can be changed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Drucker" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-critical-factor-of-a-problem-is-the-element-that-has-to-be/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/peter-drucker-393_changed_the-critical-factor-of-a-problem-is-the_3172781.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/peter-drucker-393_changed_the-critical-factor-of-a-problem-is-the_3172781.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/peter-drucker-393_changed_the-critical-factor-of-a-problem-is-the_3172781.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The critical factor of a problem is the element that has to be changed before anything else can be changed.” — Peter Drucker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/peter-drucker/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/peter-drucker/", "name": "Critical Quotes by Peter Drucker", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/peter-drucker/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a46/peter-drucker-393_achieve_the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-a_49515.png" }, "description": "6 Critical quotes by Peter Drucker. Plus more from Peter Drucker and more Critical sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/peter-drucker/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/peter-drucker/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Critical", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Peter Drucker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/peter-drucker/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```