--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For years I have told my students that I…" description: "\"For years I have told my students that I been trying to train executives rather than clerks. The distinction between the two is parallel to the distinc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/carroll-quigley-9881_clerks_for-years-i-have-told-my-students-that-i_3091983.jpg" --- # For years I have told my students that I been trying to… ![“For years I have told my students that I been trying to train executives rather than clerks. The distinction between the two is parallel to the distinction previously made between understanding and knowledge. It is a mighty low executive who cannot hire several people with command of more…” quote by Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/carroll-quigley-9881_clerks_for-years-i-have-told-my-students-that-i_3091983.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/carroll-quigley-9881_clerks_for-years-i-have-told-my-students-that-i_3091983.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/carroll-quigley-9881_clerks_for-years-i-have-told-my-students-that-i_3091983.jpg) > “For years I have told my students that I been trying to train executives rather than clerks. The distinction between the two is parallel to the distinction previously made between understanding and knowledge. It is a mighty low executive who cannot hire several people with command of more knowledge than he has himself.” [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Executives must possess deeper knowledge than their subordinates, unlike clerks who merely follow orders. **In simple terms:** Leaders need more knowledge than their staff. Key Takeaway Cultivate expertise beyond delegation. Themes leadership knowledge hierarchy Mood reflective analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - business management - career advancement - team building Key Concepts executive development knowledge asymmetry Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders balance learning with managing? - What structures support knowledge sharing? A Different Perspective Leaders may lack time to acquire such depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [Grant, Goddess, thy protection, And in protection, strength, And in strength, understanding, And in understanding, knowledge, And in knowledge the knowledge of justice, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iolo-morganwg/grant-goddess-thy-protection-and-in-protection-strength-and-in/) Iolo Morganwg > [here is a great difference between knowing a thing and understanding it. You can know a lot and not really understand anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/here-is-a-great-difference-between-knowing-a-thing-and-understanding/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [If we have a better understanding of knowledge than we do of such justification or competence, then we can explain the latter through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/if-we-have-a-better-understanding-of-knowledge-than-we-do-of-such/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [Understanding the knowledge and wisdom of the Qur'an is by far, higher than memorizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/understanding-the-knowledge-and-wisdom-of-the-qur-an-is-by-far-higher/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [We have the ability to be the ocean. And access all that infinite possibility, understanding, knowledge, awareness. Or we can get caught up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-icke/we-have-the-ability-to-be-the-ocean-and-access-all-that-infinite/) [David Icke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-icke/) > [Hire and promote first on the basis of integrity; second, motivation; third, capacity; fourth, understanding; fifth, knowledge; and last and least, experience. Without integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-hock/hire-and-promote-first-on-the-basis-of-integrity-second-motivation/) [Dee Hock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-hock/) > [Through art mysterious bonds of understanding and of knowledge are established among men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/through-art-mysterious-bonds-of-understanding-and-of-knowledge-are/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [“Truth ain't be in secret site to be found. It lies within certain levels of understanding and knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/truth-ain-t-be-in-secret-site-to-be-found-it-lies-within-certain/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [When children are truly involved in the scientific process they gain understanding, knowledge, and life skills. They deepen their awareness of what's going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-katz/when-children-are-truly-involved-in-the-scientific-process-they-gain/) [Lilian Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-katz/) > [“Knowledge makes you knowledgable, understanding knowledge makes you intelligent, using knowledge efficiently makes you smart, but only kindness makes you truly wise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-ch-vere/knowledge-makes-you-knowledgable-understanding-knowledge-makes-you/) Ricardo Chévere > [Knowledge is an addiction, as drink; knowledge does not bring understanding. Knowledge can be taught, but not wisdom; there must be freedom from knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/knowledge-is-an-addiction-as-drink-knowledge-does-not-bring/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [The desire to explore thus marks out the mathematician. This is one of the forces making for the growth of mathematics. The mathematician enjoys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-w-sawyer/the-desire-to-explore-thus-marks-out-the-mathematician-this-is-one-of/) [W. W. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-w-sawyer/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. I seem almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-greatest-embarrassment-of-my-political-career-has-been-that/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge. For if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/a-man-is-saved-no-faster-than-he-gets-knowledge-for-if-he-does-not/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [I ... must continue to strive for more knowledge and more power, though the new knowledge always contradicts the old and the new power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-must-continue-to-strive-for-more-knowledge-and-more-power-though/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## More by Carroll Quigley > [The traditional Christian attitude toward human personality was that human nature was essentially good and that it was formed and modified by social pressures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/the-traditional-christian-attitude-toward-human-personality-was-that/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [The backwardness of our religious and social developments is undoubtedly holding back the development of the intellectual and political levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/the-backwardness-of-our-religious-and-social-developments-is/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [The problem of meaning today is the problem of how the diverse and superficially self-contradictory experiences of men can be put into a consistent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/the-problem-of-meaning-today-is-the-problem-of-how-the-diverse-and/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [The very idea that there is some kind of conflict between science and religion is completely mistaken. Science is a method for investigating experience...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/the-very-idea-that-there-is-some-kind-of-conflict-between-science-and/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [This priesthood became a closed group, able to control enormous wealth and incomes, and concerned very largely with the study of the solar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/this-priesthood-became-a-closed-group-able-to-control-enormous-wealth/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/the-argument-that-the-two-parties-should-represent-opposed-ideals-and/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [“We are violating every aspect of life by turning everything into a ripoff because we have adopted the view that insatiable individualistic greed must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/we-are-violating-every-aspect-of-life-by-turning-everything-into-a/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [The process by which civilization, as an abstract entity distinct from the societies in which it is embodied, dies or is reborn is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/the-process-by-which-civilization-as-an-abstract-entity-distinct-from/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [The West believes that man and the universe are both complex and that the apparently discordant parts of each can be put into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/the-west-believes-that-man-and-the-universe-are-both-complex-and-that/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [Each individual in a society is a nexus where innumerable relationships of this character intersect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/each-individual-in-a-society-is-a-nexus-where-innumerable/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [A society is a group whose members have more relationships with one another then they do with outsiders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/a-society-is-a-group-whose-members-have-more-relationships-with-one/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [Thus, the use of fiat money is more justifiable in financing a depression than in financing a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/thus-the-use-of-fiat-money-is-more-justifiable-in-financing-a/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [Each central banksought to dominate its government by its ability to control Treasury loans, to manipulate foreign exchanges, to influence the level of economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/each-central-banksought-to-dominate-its-government-by-its-ability-to/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [It is this power structure which the Radical Right in the United States has been attacking for years in the belief that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/it-is-this-power-structure-which-the-radical-right-in-the-united/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [I am now quite sure that Tragedy and Hope was suppressed although I do not know why or by whom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/i-am-now-quite-sure-that-tragedy-and-hope-was-suppressed-although-i/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) [Explore all 69 Carroll Quigley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) ## More Clerks quotes > [ Gonna rain like a cow pissin' on a flat rock" \[drugstore clerk to detective Virgil Flowers\] Dark of the Moon, p.7 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sandford/gonna-rain-like-a-cow-pissin-on-a-flat-rock-drugstore-clerk-to/) [John Sandford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sandford/) > [I like to change liquor stores frequently because the clerks got to know your habits if you went in night and day and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-like-to-change-liquor-stores-frequently-because-the-clerks-got-to/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [My dad was a bartender. My mom was a cashier, a maid and a stock clerk at K-Mart. They never made it big. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/my-dad-was-a-bartender-my-mom-was-a-cashier-a-maid-and-a-stock-clerk/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [My law clerks come from diverse backgrounds and points of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/my-law-clerks-come-from-diverse-backgrounds-and-points-of-view/) [Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/) > [I do not rule Russia: ten thousand clerks do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-not-rule-russia-ten-thousand-clerks-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am proud that a majority of my law clerks have been women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/i-am-proud-that-a-majority-of-my-law-clerks-have-been-women/) [Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/) > [I had a lot of jobs, because I wanted to be an actor, and I had this bad habit of wanting to eat regularly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hilton-jacobs/i-had-a-lot-of-jobs-because-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-had-this/) [Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hilton-jacobs/) > [Corporate types love to pretend their life is exciting. The whispers, fist-pumping and animated hand gestures are all designed to lift our job description…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chetan-bhagat/corporate-types-love-to-pretend-their-life-is-exciting-the-whispers/) [Chetan Bhagat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chetan-bhagat/) > [I actually never acted on "Deadwood." I have meetings all the time where people look at my IMDb page and see that I played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-actually-never-acted-on-deadwood-i-have-meetings-all-the-time-where/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [The key to success is to get out into the store and listen to what the associates have to say. It's terribly important for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/the-key-to-success-is-to-get-out-into-the-store-and-listen-to-what/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [As a judge, I hire four law clerks each year. I look for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/as-a-judge-i-hire-four-law-clerks-each-year-i-look-for-the-best/) [Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/) > [“They play like file clerks file.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kessler/they-play-like-file-clerks-file/) Lauren Kessler > [Turks have a dismissive phrase: he works like a clerk. I have turned this insult around: I am proud to say that I work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/turks-have-a-dismissive-phrase-he-works-like-a-clerk-i-have-turned/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [At the enchanted metropolitan twilight I felt a haunting loneliness sometimes, and felt it in others -- poor young clerks who loitered in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/at-the-enchanted-metropolitan-twilight-i-felt-a-haunting-loneliness/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [But do not give it to a lawyer's clerk to write, for they use a legal hand that Satan himself will not understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/but-do-not-give-it-to-a-lawyer-s-clerk-to-write-for-they-use-a-legal/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) Browse all 184 Clerks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For years I have told my students that I been trying to train executives rather than clerks. The distinction between the two is parallel to the distinction previously made between understanding and knowledge. 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