--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ON BUSY BASTARDS: A busy bastard can’t…" description: "\"“ON BUSY BASTARDS: A busy bastard can’t stop finding things to do. He never rests and as a result, his staff never rests. He’s always making work that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/colin-powell-691_assholeforaboss_on-busy-bastards-a-busy-bastard-can-t-st_1541579.jpg" --- # ON BUSY BASTARDS: A busy bastard can’t stop finding things… ![“ON BUSY BASTARDS: A busy bastard can’t stop finding things to do. He never rests and as a result, his staff never rests. He’s always making work that expands to fill whatever time is available. The point I make in my book is: Be busy, work hard, but don’t become so busy that you cut out other…” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/colin-powell-691_assholeforaboss_on-busy-bastards-a-busy-bastard-can-t-st_1541579.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/colin-powell-691_assholeforaboss_on-busy-bastards-a-busy-bastard-can-t-st_1541579.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/colin-powell-691_assholeforaboss_on-busy-bastards-a-busy-bastard-can-t-st_1541579.jpg) > ““ON BUSY BASTARDS: A busy bastard can’t stop finding things to do. He never rests and as a result, his staff never rests. He’s always making work that expands to fill whatever time is available. The point I make in my book is: Be busy, work hard, but don’t become so busy that you cut out other things in life, like family and recreation and hobbies. And never be so busy that you’re not giving your staff and your followers enough time to do the same thing.”” [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive busyness can erode personal well‑being and diminish team performance; balance is essential. **In simple terms:** Being too busy harms life and work. Key Takeaway Set boundaries to protect personal time. Themes work‑life balance leadership productivity Mood thoughtful urgent Type leadership practical When to use this quote - project planning - family time - personal hobbies - team scheduling Key Concepts time management burnout prevention Questions to Reflect On - What tasks truly add value? - How can you model balanced work habits? A Different Perspective Some may view busyness as a status symbol. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assholes/) [Bastards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bastards/) [Bastards Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bastards-busy-5742941/) [Book Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-busy-5742942/) [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Busy Bastard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-bastard-5742940/) [Busy Bastards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-bastards-5742939/) [Busy work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-work/) [Enough time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough-time/) [Things in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-in-life/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [The great thing about an independent film is that you're too busy working, and you're too busy hoping to God to get it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dowd/the-great-thing-about-an-independent-film-is-that-you-re-too-busy/) [Ann Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dowd/) > [“Edenists will disdain busy working people. They will portray them as heartless robots of a soulless capitalist system. They don’t understand that most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-g-buchholz/edenists-will-disdain-busy-working-people-they-will-portray-them-as/) [Todd G. Buchholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-g-buchholz/) > [Luck? Luck is hard work - and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/luck-luck-is-hard-work-and-realizing-what-is-opportunity-and-what-isn/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/after-all-the-best-part-of-a-holiday-is-perhaps-not-so-much-to-be/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [While dam-busting Democrats are focusing on destroying water storage projects, I'm busy working on real solutions that put rural communities first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-boebert/while-dam-busting-democrats-are-focusing-on-destroying-water-storage/) [Lauren Boebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-boebert/) > [When I need u... you always tell me that... SORRY I m buzy... but...when u need me...either I m busy...i do your work...WHY>>??](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangfroid-shaalu/when-i-need-u-you-always-tell-me-that-sorry-i-m-buzy-but-when-u-need/) [SangFroid Shaalu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangfroid-shaalu/) > [Busy work brings after ease; Ease brings sport and sport brings rest; For young and old, of all degrees, The mingled lot is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-baillie/busy-work-brings-after-ease-ease-brings-sport-and-sport-brings-rest/) [Joanna Baillie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-baillie/) > [I do think my old fella wasn't much of a... I don't remember him ever being a 'dad' dad. He was too busy working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-do-think-my-old-fella-wasn-t-much-of-a-i-don-t-remember-him-ever/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [If ants are such busy workers, how come they find time to go to all the picnics?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-dressler/if-ants-are-such-busy-workers-how-come-they-find-time-to-go-to-all/) [Marie Dressler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-dressler/) > [On your troubles and God is silence, never think He abandon you, He is just busy working on the best things for you. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-malabago/on-your-troubles-and-god-is-silence-never-think-he-abandon-you-he-is/) [Regina Malabago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-malabago/) > [“Even when you don't see Him working, He's busy working on your behalf. Forever grateful for God's grace!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-pierre/even-when-you-don-t-see-him-working-he-s-busy-working-on-your-behalf/) [Yvonne Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-pierre/) > [Being busy with work, and as a mum, I'm a big fan of online shopping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-gallacher/being-busy-with-work-and-as-a-mum-i-m-a-big-fan-of-online-shopping/) [Kirsty Gallacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-gallacher/) > [I had no idea 'Moon River' would do so well. I was too busy working to think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/i-had-no-idea-moon-river-would-do-so-well-i-was-too-busy-working-to/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [“set up an appointment with yourself in the morning, during a busy work schedule, or at night to find a quiet space and practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-owens/set-up-an-appointment-with-yourself-in-the-morning-during-a-busy-work/) [Sarah Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-owens/) > [O man you are busy working for the world, and the world is busy trying to turn you out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-bakr/o-man-you-are-busy-working-for-the-world-and-the-world-is-busy-trying/) [Abu Bakr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-bakr/) ## More by Colin Powell > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Decision-making is lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/decision-making-is-lonely/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We can seldom get our children to do what we tell them, but they almost never fail to imitate us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-can-seldom-get-our-children-to-do-what-we-tell-them-but-they/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [With respect to where we are now, we have a voluntary army. And if we ever go back to conscription I hope that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/with-respect-to-where-we-are-now-we-have-a-voluntary-army-and-if-we/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There are no secrets to success: don't waste time looking for them, success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-are-no-secrets-to-success-don-t-waste-time-looking-for-them/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [So like any football or basketball coach, you always always believe you're going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/so-like-any-football-or-basketball-coach-you-always-always-believe/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We hope that more assistance will be available to the nations of the region, to include Egypt, on the three pillars that I discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-hope-that-more-assistance-will-be-available-to-the-nations-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [One of the most worrisome things that emerges from the thick intelligence file we have on Iraq's biological weapons is the existence of mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/one-of-the-most-worrisome-things-that-emerges-from-the-thick/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Pissing people off doesn't mean you're doing the right things, but doing the right things will almost inevitably piss people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/pissing-people-off-doesn-t-mean-you-re-doing-the-right-things-but/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Be careful what you choose: You may get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/be-careful-what-you-choose-you-may-get-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Explore all 408 Colin Powell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## More Assholes quotes > [“Claiming to be offended is a great way to elevate yourself at the expense of others: “Look at me! I'm a much better person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/claiming-to-be-offended-is-a-great-way-to-elevate-yourself-at-the/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [Note To Females: You cant blame the entire male genre just because you were attracted to some assholes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/note-to-females-you-cant-blame-the-entire-male-genre-just-because-you/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) > [Broken hearts are for assholes, are you an asshole?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/broken-hearts-are-for-assholes-are-you-an-asshole/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [“All men are assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-sanchez/all-men-are-assholes/) [Lisa Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-sanchez/) > [“World is so beautiful, but alas! There are so many assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/world-is-so-beautiful-but-alas-there-are-so-many-assholes/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [The grumpier you are, the more assholes you meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-grumpier-you-are-the-more-assholes-you-meet/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [“Half the time, people just want to be assholes, so they call it rebellion. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-konen/half-the-time-people-just-want-to-be-assholes-so-they-call-it/) [Leah Konen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-konen/) > [“What a mealy-mouth. Windier than a bag of assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-ross/what-a-mealy-mouth-windier-than-a-bag-of-assholes/) [Rodney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-ross/) > [Excuses are like assholes, everyone has one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/excuses-are-like-assholes-everyone-has-one/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [“You hear this kind of thing, rednecks and their guys and--" "Don't call them that," I say. "They're just assholes. Most people you run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/you-hear-this-kind-of-thing-rednecks-and-their-guys-and-don-t-call/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [Guys annoy me so much -.- it's like they study to be an asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/guys-annoy-me-so-much-it-s-like-they-study-to-be-an-asshole/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“New Rule: Democrats must get in touch with their inner asshole. I refer to the case of Van Jones, the man the Obama administration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-democrats-must-get-in-touch-with-their-inner-asshole-i-refer/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“People hate it when you call them on jackassery. That's a big fact of human nature: Not a lot of people want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/people-hate-it-when-you-call-them-on-jackassery-that-s-a-big-fact-of/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Don't you think she's had her quota of assholes?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/don-t-you-think-she-s-had-her-quota-of-assholes/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [Friends are like assholes, everyone's got one but some are more full of shit than other's!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-carrion/friends-are-like-assholes-everyone-s-got-one-but-some-are-more-full/) [Diana Carrion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-carrion/) [Browse all 238 Assholes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assholes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“ON BUSY BASTARDS: A busy bastard can’t stop finding things to do. 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