--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Committee: A group which succeeds in…" description: "\"Committee: A group which succeeds in getting something done only when it consists of three members, one of whom happens to be sick and another absent.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/abraham-lincoln-88_absent_committee-a-group-which-succeeds-in-gett_928336.png" --- # Committee: A group which succeeds in getting something… ![“Committee: A group which succeeds in getting something done only when it consists of three members, one of whom happens to be sick and another absent.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/abraham-lincoln-88_absent_committee-a-group-which-succeeds-in-gett_928336.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/abraham-lincoln-88_absent_committee-a-group-which-succeeds-in-gett_928336.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/abraham-lincoln-88_absent_committee-a-group-which-succeeds-in-gett_928336.png) > “Committee: A group which succeeds in getting something done only when it consists of three members, one of whom happens to be sick and another absent.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He humorously defines a committee as ineffective unless its members are absent or ill, highlighting group inefficiency. **In simple terms:** Committees fail when members are missing. Key Takeaway Avoid over‑reliance on committees. Themes efficiency leadership collaboration Mood skeptical humorous Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - project planning - board meetings - team assignments - policy development Key Concepts group dynamics decision making organizational structure Questions to Reflect On - When does a committee add value? - How can you ensure effective participation? A Different Perspective Not all groups are dysfunctional; many succeed with clear roles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Committee, n.: A group of people that, when given the task of deciding whether to start array indices from either 0 or 1, compromises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-kelly-bootle/committee-n-a-group-of-people-that-when-given-the-task-of-deciding/) [Stan Kelly-Bootle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-kelly-bootle/) > [A committee is a group of individuals who all put in a perfectly good color, and it comes out gray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sherman/a-committee-is-a-group-of-individuals-who-all-put-in-a-perfectly-good/) [Allan Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sherman/) > [Committee - a group of men who keep minutes and waste hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/committee-a-group-of-men-who-keep-minutes-and-waste-hours/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [Committee - a group of men who individually can do nothing but as a group decide that nothing can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/committee-a-group-of-men-who-individually-can-do-nothing-but-as-a/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) > [A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/a-committee-is-a-group-that-keeps-minutes-and-loses-hours/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [A committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing but together can decide that nothing can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/a-committee-is-a-group-of-people-who-individually-can-do-nothing-but/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) > [A committee is a group of the unprepared, appointed by the unwilling to do the unnecessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/a-committee-is-a-group-of-the-unprepared-appointed-by-the-unwilling/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) > [What is a committee? A group of the unwilling, picked from the unfit, to do the unnecessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-harkness/what-is-a-committee-a-group-of-the-unwilling-picked-from-the-unfit-to/) Richard Harkness > [A committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but who, as a group, can meet and decide that nothing can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/a-committee-is-a-group-of-people-who-individually-can-do-nothing-but-2/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) > [“And even if something horrible happens and you get sick and die a year from now, or five years from now, I’d still want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloan-parker/and-even-if-something-horrible-happens-and-you-get-sick-and-die-a/) [Sloan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloan-parker/) > [Government likes committees... a lot. Committees kill all the really good ideas and generally all the really bad ideas. 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