Authority Quote by Arthur C. Clarke
“Sometimes a decision has to be made by a single individual, who has the authority to enforce it. That's why you need a captain. You can't run a ship by a committee-at least not all the time.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Lost Worlds of 1975, 1975
Leadership requires decisive authority; a single captain can act where groups cannot.
In simple terms: A leader must make decisions alone when needed.
Key Takeaway
Empower clear authority.
Themes
leadership
decisionmaking
authority
Mood
determined
serious
Type
advice
leadership
When to use this quote
- business
- military
- team projects
- crisis management
Key Concepts
hierarchy
responsibility
command
Questions to Reflect On
- When should a group decide instead of a leader?
- How to balance authority with collaboration?
A Different Perspective
Too much centralization can stifle diverse input.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)