--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bad administration, to be sure, can…" description: "\"Bad administration, to be sure, can destroy good policy, but good administration can never save bad policy.\" — Adlai Stevenson I" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/adlai-stevenson-i-27724_administration_bad-administration-to-be-sure-can-destro_2559660.png" --- # Bad administration, to be sure, can destroy good policy… ![“Bad administration, to be sure, can destroy good policy, but good administration can never save bad policy.” quote by Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/adlai-stevenson-i-27724_administration_bad-administration-to-be-sure-can-destro_2559660.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/adlai-stevenson-i-27724_administration_bad-administration-to-be-sure-can-destro_2559660.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/adlai-stevenson-i-27724_administration_bad-administration-to-be-sure-can-destro_2559660.png) > “Bad administration, to be sure, can destroy good policy, but good administration can never save bad policy.” [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective administration cannot compensate for fundamentally flawed policies; good policies need good execution, but bad policies remain detrimental regardless of management. **In simple terms:** Good policies need good execution; bad policies stay bad. Key Takeaway Focus on creating sound policies before worrying about administration. Themes governance policy administration leadership public management Mood cautious pragmatic thoughtful Type political strategic inspirational When to use this quote - legislative drafting - governmental reform - budget planning - policy evaluation - bureaucratic oversight Key Concepts public policy organizational effectiveness political strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure policies are sound from the start? - What role does leadership play in policy success? A Different Perspective Even excellent administration may be limited by systemic constraints or political opposition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Bad Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-administration-747462/) [Bad Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-policy-277354/) [Good Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-administration-1593493/) [Good Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-policy-677405/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Policy Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy-good-1045966/) ## Related quotes > [Forget the consultants, the pundits and the pollsters; good policy is good politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/forget-the-consultants-the-pundits-and-the-pollsters-good-policy-is/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) > [I'm a big believer that good policy is good politics. And so, when it comes to making decisions on policy issues, what I endeavor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-m-a-big-believer-that-good-policy-is-good-politics-and-so-when-it/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Good policy always trumps bad public relations and the best PR can't trump bad policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schieffer/good-policy-always-trumps-bad-public-relations-and-the-best-pr-can-t/) [Bob Schieffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schieffer/) > [Let's not build the policy around the abuse. That's not good policy. That's actually bad policy. Build the policy around the aspiration point. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/let-s-not-build-the-policy-around-the-abuse-that-s-not-good-policy/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [The establishment of the National Park Service is justified by considerations of good administration, of the value of natural beauty as a National asset,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-establishment-of-the-national-park-service-is-justified-by/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“a national government is bad enough, but this administration is the largest collection of scoundrels and morons in recent memory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-dodge/a-national-government-is-bad-enough-but-this-administration-is-the/) [Jim Dodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-dodge/) > [In many spheres of human endeavor, from science to business to education to economic policy, good decisions depend on good measurement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/in-many-spheres-of-human-endeavor-from-science-to-business-to/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [Good environmental policy is good economic policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/good-environmental-policy-is-good-economic-policy/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Well they have an input into policy but in the end governments are elected to put together policy but the good thing about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/well-they-have-an-input-into-policy-but-in-the-end-governments-are/) [John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/) > [Smart energy policy is good for the economy and our environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/smart-energy-policy-is-good-for-the-economy-and-our-environment/) [Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/) > [In the end, rational policy is always good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-keating/in-the-end-rational-policy-is-always-good/) [Paul Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-keating/) > [We all saw it coming. Arsenal's youth policy has always been very good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hodgson/we-all-saw-it-coming-arsenal-s-youth-policy-has-always-been-very-good/) [Roy Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hodgson/) > [I always thought a very strong anti-drug policy was a good thing for my union members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-lynch/i-always-thought-a-very-strong-anti-drug-policy-was-a-good-thing-for/) [Stephen F. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-lynch/) > [In the field of world policy; I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-the-field-of-world-policy-i-would-dedicate-this-nation-to-the/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Be yourself. Hillary Clinton, you have a great vision for our country. You know the policy, you have good judgment that springs from that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/be-yourself-hillary-clinton-you-have-a-great-vision-for-our-country/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) ## More by Adlai Stevenson I > [An independent is the guy who wants to take the politics out of politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/an-independent-is-the-guy-who-wants-to-take-the-politics-out-of/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [The sound of tireless voices is the price we pay for the right to hear the music of our own opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/the-sound-of-tireless-voices-is-the-price-we-pay-for-the-right-to/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [Men may be born free; they cannot be born wise; and it is the duty of the university to make the free wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/men-may-be-born-free-they-cannot-be-born-wise-and-it-is-the-duty-of/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [Here, in the dread tribunal of last resort, valor contended against valor. Here brave men struggled and died for the right as God gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/here-in-the-dread-tribunal-of-last-resort-valor-contended-against/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [Our strength lies, not alone in our proving grounds and our stockpiles, but in our ideals, our goals, and their universal appeal to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/our-strength-lies-not-alone-in-our-proving-grounds-and-our-stockpiles/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [Power corrupts, but lack of power corrupts absolutely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/power-corrupts-but-lack-of-power-corrupts-absolutely/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/some-of-us-worship-in-churches-some-in-synagogues-some-on-golf-courses/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [A man doesn't save a century, or a civilization, but a militant party wedded to a principle can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/a-man-doesn-t-save-a-century-or-a-civilization-but-a-militant-party/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [A wise man does not try to hurry history. Many wars have been avoided by patience, and many have been precipitated by reckless haste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/a-wise-man-does-not-try-to-hurry-history-many-wars-have-been-avoided/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [I have been told that one of the reasons the astronomers of the world cooperate is the fact that there is no one nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/i-have-been-told-that-one-of-the-reasons-the-astronomers-of-the-world/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [The tragedy of our day is the climate of fear in which we live, and fear breeds repression. Too often sinister threats to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/the-tragedy-of-our-day-is-the-climate-of-fear-in-which-we-live-and/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [A lie is an abomination unto the Lord, and a very present help in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/a-lie-is-an-abomination-unto-the-lord-and-a-very-present-help-in/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [It is in the nature of cats to do a certain amount of unescorted roaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/it-is-in-the-nature-of-cats-to-do-a-certain-amount-of-unescorted/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [Self-Criticism is the secret weapon of democracy, and candor and confession are good for the political soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/self-criticism-is-the-secret-weapon-of-democracy-and-candor-and/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) > [Why is it that when political ammunition runs low, inevitably the rusty artillery of abuse is always wheeled into action?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/why-is-it-that-when-political-ammunition-runs-low-inevitably-the/) [Adlai Stevenson I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) [Explore all 20 Adlai Stevenson I quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/) ## More Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bad administration, to be sure, can destroy good policy, but good administration can never save bad policy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adlai Stevenson I" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/bad-administration-to-be-sure-can-destroy-good-policy-but-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Administration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/bad-administration-to-be-sure-can-destroy-good-policy-but-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/adlai-stevenson-i-27724_administration_bad-administration-to-be-sure-can-destro_2559660.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/adlai-stevenson-i-27724_administration_bad-administration-to-be-sure-can-destro_2559660.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/adlai-stevenson-i-27724_administration_bad-administration-to-be-sure-can-destro_2559660.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Bad administration, to be sure, can destroy good policy, but good administration can never save bad policy.” — Adlai Stevenson I", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Adlai Stevenson I", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-stevenson-i/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Bad administration, to be sure, can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/bad-administration-to-be-sure-can-destroy-good-policy-but-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-stevenson-i/bad-administration-to-be-sure-can-destroy-good-policy-but-good/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```