Autonomous Quote by Brooks Atkinson
“Bureaucracies are designed to perform public business. But as soon as a bureaucracy is established, it develops an autonomous spiritual life and comes to regard the public as its enemy.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The New York Times, 1941
Bureaucracies become self‑preserving entities that may view the public as adversaries.
In simple terms: Bureaucracies can turn against the people they serve.
Key Takeaway
Guard against bureaucratic self‑interest.
Themes
government
institutional behavior
power dynamics
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- public services
- NGO management
Key Concepts
bureaucratic inertia
public trust
organizational culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens hold bureaucracies accountable?
- What mechanisms prevent bureaucratic drift?
A Different Perspective
Reforms may be resisted by entrenched interests.
