---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Short-term thinking is the greatest enemy…"
description: "\"Short-term thinking is the greatest enemy of good government.\" — Anthony Albanese"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/anthony-albanese-21999_enemy_short-term-thinking-is-the-greatest-enem_2174198.jpg"
---

#  Short-term thinking is the greatest enemy of good…

![“Short-term thinking is the greatest enemy of good government.” quote by Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/anthony-albanese-21999_enemy_short-term-thinking-is-the-greatest-enem_2174198.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/anthony-albanese-21999_enemy_short-term-thinking-is-the-greatest-enem_2174198.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/anthony-albanese-21999_enemy_short-term-thinking-is-the-greatest-enem_2174198.jpg)

> “Short-term thinking is the greatest enemy of good government.”

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

## About This Quote

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

Short‑term decisions undermine effective governance, as lasting solutions require long‑term planning and foresight.

**In simple terms:** Short‑term focus harms good government.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize long‑term planning.

Themes

governance policy leadership strategy future

Mood

reflective critical

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- budget planning
- legislative agendas
- infrastructure projects
- environmental policy

Key Concepts

policy cycles institutional inertia public trust

Questions to Reflect On

- What mechanisms can enforce long‑term thinking?
- How to resist short‑term political pressures?

A Different Perspective

Immediate pressures can override thoughtful deliberation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest/) [Greatest Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-enemy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Term Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-thinking/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-greatest-2234777/)

## Related quotes

> [“Making sensible choices is short-term thinking; they never make for good memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-j-barr/making-sensible-choices-is-short-term-thinking-they-never-make-for/)

[C.L.J. Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-j-barr/)

> [The number one problem in our society today is short-term thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-number-one-problem-in-our-society-today-is-short-term-thinking/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Money can extinguish intrinsic motivation, diminish performance, crush creativity, encourage unethical behavior, foster short-term thinking, and become addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/money-can-extinguish-intrinsic-motivation-diminish-performance-crush/)

[Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/)

> [Unfortunately, from my days as national coach were going backwards in terms of we dont see it as an investment, we see it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-postecoglou/unfortunately-from-my-days-as-national-coach-were-going-backwards-in/)

[Angelos Postecoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-postecoglou/)

> [I doubt that most people with short-term thinking love the natural world enough to save it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/i-doubt-that-most-people-with-short-term-thinking-love-the-natural/)

[E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/)

> [The most damaging aspect of contemporary living is short-term thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-most-damaging-aspect-of-contemporary-living-is-short-term-thinking/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Whilst large organisations need foresight, they are also notorious in their bias for short term thinking, sometimes rejecting or even suppressing foresight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-graves/whilst-large-organisations-need-foresight-they-are-also-notorious-in/)

[Tom Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-graves/)

> [We want everything in a hurry because our primary aim must be survival in the short term. Long term thinking has seemed like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-butler-bowdon/we-want-everything-in-a-hurry-because-our-primary-aim-must-be/)

[Tom Butler-Bowdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-butler-bowdon/)

> [Some habits of ineffectiveness are rooted in our social conditioning toward quick-fix, short-term thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/some-habits-of-ineffectiveness-are-rooted-in-our-social-conditioning/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [If you are too into the fans and adoration and the world thinking you are the greatest, then you do not perform well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hellmuth/if-you-are-too-into-the-fans-and-adoration-and-the-world-thinking-you/)

[Phil Hellmuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hellmuth/)

> [“Thinking is one of the greatest pleasures of the human race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/thinking-is-one-of-the-greatest-pleasures-of-the-human-race/)

[Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/)

> [Thinking is to me the greatest fatigue in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/thinking-is-to-me-the-greatest-fatigue-in-the-world/)

[John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/)

> [The art of thinking is the greatest art of all, for 'as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.' The thinker knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/the-art-of-thinking-is-the-greatest-art-of-all-for-as-a-man-thinketh/)

[Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/)

> [Thinking is the greatest torture in the world for most people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-is-the-greatest-torture-in-the-world-for-most-people/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Our greatest enemy lives within us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saad-jatoi/our-greatest-enemy-lives-within-us/)

[Saad Jatoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saad-jatoi/)

## More by Anthony Albanese

> [Politicians who lack the vision to lead the community on big issues like public transport often hide their inaction by blaming other levels of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/politicians-who-lack-the-vision-to-lead-the-community-on-big-issues/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [If you invest in education and training of our young people, what you do is you increase the future economic capacity of the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/if-you-invest-in-education-and-training-of-our-young-people-what-you/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [You can guarantee that mining uranium will lead to nuclear waste. You can't guarantee that uranium mining will not lead to nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/you-can-guarantee-that-mining-uranium-will-lead-to-nuclear-waste-you/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [Australia has an economic interest in ensuring our cities have 21st century urban rail transport to reduce traffic congestion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/australia-has-an-economic-interest-in-ensuring-our-cities-have-21st/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [We are not a single-issue party that puts abstract policy ahead of the working lives of people. We are not bitter, frightened xenophobes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/we-are-not-a-single-issue-party-that-puts-abstract-policy-ahead-of/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [The very best Labor governments in our nation's history distinguished themselves by thinking big and, wherever possible, resisting the temptation to overemphasise short-term political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/the-very-best-labor-governments-in-our-nation-s-history-distinguished/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [Our national challenge is to continue to drive sustained economic growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/our-national-challenge-is-to-continue-to-drive-sustained-economic/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [A critical component of progress is engaging with people you don't agree with - everything else is the status quo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/a-critical-component-of-progress-is-engaging-with-people-you-don-t/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [There is a separation - a very clear separation - between the judiciary, the legal system, and the political system in this country, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/there-is-a-separation-a-very-clear-separation-between-the-judiciary/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [What Australians expect of leaders is a bit of integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/what-australians-expect-of-leaders-is-a-bit-of-integrity/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [The passage of time is likely to make high-speed rail more and more desirable, making it critical that politicians of today think ahead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/the-passage-of-time-is-likely-to-make-high-speed-rail-more-and-more/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [No mainstream politician believes in open borders, but a policy that uses its prolonged treatment of detained people as an ongoing deterrent to others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/no-mainstream-politician-believes-in-open-borders-but-a-policy-that/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [High-speed rail would revolutionise interstate travel and would also be an economic game-changer for dozens of regional communities along its path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/high-speed-rail-would-revolutionise-interstate-travel-and-would-also/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [If we are to celebrate the giants in Australian public life, then Robert Garran must be among them. A lawyer and passionate advocate of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/if-we-are-to-celebrate-the-giants-in-australian-public-life-then/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

> [It is in the national interest to have the Flying Kangaroo. It's in the interests of our tourism industry. It's in the interests of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/it-is-in-the-national-interest-to-have-the-flying-kangaroo-it-s-in/)

[Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

[Explore all 28 Anthony Albanese quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/)

## More Enemy quotes

> [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

> [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [Fear is a man's worst enemy, but love is a man's most powerful weapon against anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-is-a-man-s-worst-enemy-but-love-is-a-man-s-most-powerful-weapon/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/)

[Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/)

> [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/)

[A.K. Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-k-hasan/)

> [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/)

[Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/)

> [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/)

[Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/)

> [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power &amp; movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/)

[Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/)

> [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/)

[Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/)

> [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. Everything else is rubbish!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/in-this-business-you-find-the-enemy-then-go-after-and-destroy-him/)

[Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/)

> [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/)

[Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/)

[Browse all 7,981 Enemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Short-term thinking is the greatest enemy of good government.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anthony Albanese"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/short-term-thinking-is-the-greatest-enemy-of-good-government/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Enemy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/short-term-thinking-is-the-greatest-enemy-of-good-government/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/anthony-albanese-21999_enemy_short-term-thinking-is-the-greatest-enem_2174198.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/anthony-albanese-21999_enemy_short-term-thinking-is-the-greatest-enem_2174198.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/anthony-albanese-21999_enemy_short-term-thinking-is-the-greatest-enem_2174198.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Short-term thinking is the greatest enemy of good government.” — Anthony Albanese",
                "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": "Anthony Albanese",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Short-term thinking is the greatest enemy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/short-term-thinking-is-the-greatest-enemy-of-good-government/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/short-term-thinking-is-the-greatest-enemy-of-good-government/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
