---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Part of being innovative in government is…"
description: "\"Part of being innovative in government is sometimes not trying to plot out the last chapter of the book, but to be open and see what comes back.\" — Ant..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/anthony-foxx-16064_back_part-of-being-innovative-in-government-i_1298012.jpg"
---

#  Part of being innovative in government is sometimes not…

![“Part of being innovative in government is sometimes not trying to plot out the last chapter of the book, but to be open and see what comes back.” quote by Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/anthony-foxx-16064_back_part-of-being-innovative-in-government-i_1298012.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/anthony-foxx-16064_back_part-of-being-innovative-in-government-i_1298012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/anthony-foxx-16064_back_part-of-being-innovative-in-government-i_1298012.jpg)

> “Part of being innovative in government is sometimes not trying to plot out the last chapter of the book, but to be open and see what comes back.”

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

## About This Quote

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

Government innovation involves embracing uncertainty and allowing outcomes to emerge rather than rigidly planning every detail.

**In simple terms:** Innovation requires openness to unexpected results.

Key Takeaway

Stay flexible and welcome new ideas.

Themes

government innovation flexibility leadership strategy

Mood

optimistic forwardlooking practical

Type

administrative strategic

When to use this quote

- policy development
- pilot programs
- public services
- crisis response

Key Concepts

adaptive management creative problem solving agile governance

Questions to Reflect On

- How can agencies balance planning and flexibility?
- What processes support adaptive governance?

A Different Perspective

Rigid structures can hinder rapid response.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/)

## Related quotes

> [I love to keep my mind open to anything and take it as it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hill/i-love-to-keep-my-mind-open-to-anything-and-take-it-as-it-comes/)

[Taylor Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hill/)

> [I really just keep myself open to whatever comes and do my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-really-just-keep-myself-open-to-whatever-comes-and-do-my-best/)

[Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/)

> [I'm definitely not pushing to find who can I write with or produce with, but of course I'm open to something if it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-who/i-m-definitely-not-pushing-to-find-who-can-i-write-with-or-produce/)

[Betty Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-who/)

> [Fiction is open to whoever comes in the door, as long as you come in energetically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/fiction-is-open-to-whoever-comes-in-the-door-as-long-as-you-come-in/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [The government is very much open when it comes to digital currencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-thakur/the-government-is-very-much-open-when-it-comes-to-digital-currencies/)

[Anurag Thakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-thakur/)

> [I'll just try to keep my mind open to whatever comes my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mccoy-tyner/i-ll-just-try-to-keep-my-mind-open-to-whatever-comes-my-way/)

[McCoy Tyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mccoy-tyner/)

> [When the government is trying to penny-pinch and, at the same time, trying to keep a defense expenditure and so forth, which are regarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/when-the-government-is-trying-to-penny-pinch-and-at-the-same-time/)

[Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/)

> [Rulers in the past did irreparable losses to the country, and the now it is the PML-N government trying hard to recover the losses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shehbaz-sharif/rulers-in-the-past-did-irreparable-losses-to-the-country-and-the-now/)

[Shehbaz Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shehbaz-sharif/)

> [An inherent tension between the seeming ineffectiveness of immediate and individual action and the long view the government is trying to take here may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/an-inherent-tension-between-the-seeming-ineffectiveness-of-immediate/)

[Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/)

> [When Conservatives crusade against government while they are trying to be appointed to head the government, I think that's weird!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/when-conservatives-crusade-against-government-while-they-are-trying/)

[Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/)

> [We have to think in a very different sense than the way we think now. We think in terms of quick fixes, that solutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/we-have-to-think-in-a-very-different-sense-than-the-way-we-think-now/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [We must guard against the overreaching hand of big government trying to take away our freedom. And we must always protect the environment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbes/we-must-guard-against-the-overreaching-hand-of-big-government-trying/)

[Steve Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbes/)

> [The government is trying to now close the Lincoln Memorial for any kind of large gatherings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/the-government-is-trying-to-now-close-the-lincoln-memorial-for-any/)

[Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/)

> [The impositions that this government is trying to put on now, it's the typical death by 1,000 cuts. We'll take a little bit here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/the-impositions-that-this-government-is-trying-to-put-on-now-it-s-the/)

[Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/)

> [I'd love to have a president who really was out there leading and traveling around the world campaigning for joint climate change action. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/i-d-love-to-have-a-president-who-really-was-out-there-leading-and/)

[Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/)

## More by Anthony Foxx

> [If we're going to have an unconventional budget, we probably need an unconventional process to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/if-we-re-going-to-have-an-unconventional-budget-we-probably-need-an/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [It is unacceptable for passengers to be stranded in planes on the tarmac for hours on end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/it-is-unacceptable-for-passengers-to-be-stranded-in-planes-on-the/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [I aspire to be useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/i-aspire-to-be-useful/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [The gas tax has been the backbone of the transportation system since the inception of the Interstate highway system in the 1950s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/the-gas-tax-has-been-the-backbone-of-the-transportation-system-since/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [When you look at how American national freight systems are connected, it's a bit of a patchwork. When you look at how even road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/when-you-look-at-how-american-national-freight-systems-are-connected/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [We cannot meet the needs of a growing country and a growing economy by simply maintaining our current level of effort. We must do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/we-cannot-meet-the-needs-of-a-growing-country-and-a-growing-economy/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [I know well the opportunities and the challenges of maintaining and improving infrastructure and providing good transportation choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/i-know-well-the-opportunities-and-the-challenges-of-maintaining-and/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [We know no one is perfect, but what we cannot tolerate, what we will never accept, is a person or company that knows dangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/we-know-no-one-is-perfect-but-what-we-cannot-tolerate-what-we-will/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [The rapid increase in the production and transportation of crude oil requires additional vigilance for the continued safe movement of this commodity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/the-rapid-increase-in-the-production-and-transportation-of-crude-oil/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [No one respects the First Amendment more than I do. People have a right to express their concerns and their hopes and dreams to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/no-one-respects-the-first-amendment-more-than-i-do-people-have-a/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [People are sitting in traffic longer, and the types of solutions that are needed to relieve that congestion are ones that are paid for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/people-are-sitting-in-traffic-longer-and-the-types-of-solutions-that/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [Less revenue, more people, more freight, more gridlock - that is not a formula for success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/less-revenue-more-people-more-freight-more-gridlock-that-is-not-a/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [The key word for transportation in the 21st is 'choice.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/the-key-word-for-transportation-in-the-21st-is-choice/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [I was born to a single mom and raised by her and my grandparents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/i-was-born-to-a-single-mom-and-raised-by-her-and-my-grandparents/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

> [Today, 65 percent of America's population live in metropolitan areas - and 95 percent of all the transit miles traveled are traveled there. Metropolitan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/today-65-percent-of-america-s-population-live-in-metropolitan-areas/)

[Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

[Explore all 41 Anthony Foxx quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/)

## More Back quotes

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/)

[Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/)

> [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/)

[Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/)

> [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/)

[Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/)

> [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/)

[George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/)

> [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/)

[Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/)

> [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/)

[Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/)

> [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/)

[Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/)

> [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/)

[Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/)

> [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/)

[Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/)

> [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/)

[Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/)

> [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/)

[Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/)

> [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/)

[Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/)

> [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/)

[Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/)

Browse all 9,709 Back quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Part of being innovative in government is sometimes not trying to plot out the last chapter of the book, but to be open and see what comes back.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anthony Foxx"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/part-of-being-innovative-in-government-is-sometimes-not-trying-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Back"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/part-of-being-innovative-in-government-is-sometimes-not-trying-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/anthony-foxx-16064_back_part-of-being-innovative-in-government-i_1298012.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/anthony-foxx-16064_back_part-of-being-innovative-in-government-i_1298012.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/anthony-foxx-16064_back_part-of-being-innovative-in-government-i_1298012.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Part of being innovative in government is sometimes not trying to plot out the last chapter of the book, but…” — Anthony Foxx",
                "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 Foxx",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Part of being innovative in government...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/part-of-being-innovative-in-government-is-sometimes-not-trying-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/part-of-being-innovative-in-government-is-sometimes-not-trying-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
