Humor Quote by Bill Vaughan
“At bank, post office or supermarket, there is one universal law which you ignore at your own peril: the shortest line moves the slowest.”
About This Quote
People tend to avoid the fastest‑moving line, assuming it’s slower, which often leads to longer waits.
In simple terms: The quickest line is usually the slowest.
Key Takeaway
Don’t assume speed equals delay.
Themes
human behavior
queues
perception
Mood
observational
practical
Type
advice
behavioral
When to use this quote
- shopping
- banking
- airport security
- event ticketing
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
social proof
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we trust the crowd over logic?
- What strategies can improve queue efficiency?
A Different Perspective
Assuming the slowest line is best can waste time.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
