Dangerous Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“Work: a dangerous disorder affecting high public functionaries who want to go fishing.”
About This Quote
Source Satire: "The Devil's Dictionary", 1906
The quote humorously describes bureaucratic work as a disorder that distracts officials from leisure.
In simple terms: Work is a disorder for officials who want to fish.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and limit bureaucratic inefficiency.
Themes
work
bureaucracy
humor
Mood
wry
ironic
Type
satirical
critical
When to use this quote
- office management
- policy reform
- personal time management
- government critique
Key Concepts
organizational pathology
leisure conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance work duties with personal recreation?
- What reforms reduce unnecessary administrative burdens?
A Different Perspective
Bureaucracy can also enable essential services.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
