--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oddly enough, we can destroy the very…" description: "\"“Oddly enough, we can destroy the very things that allowed us to pursue our agendas in the first place.”\" — Craig D. Lounsbrough" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_agendas_oddly-enough-we-can-destroy-the-very-thi_604975.jpg" --- # Oddly enough, we can destroy the very things that allowed… ![“Oddly enough, we can destroy the very things that allowed us to pursue our agendas in the first place.” quote by Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_agendas_oddly-enough-we-can-destroy-the-very-thi_604975.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_agendas_oddly-enough-we-can-destroy-the-very-thi_604975.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_agendas_oddly-enough-we-can-destroy-the-very-thi_604975.jpg) > ““Oddly enough, we can destroy the very things that allowed us to pursue our agendas in the first place.”” [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Systems we create to support our goals can become obstacles when they are over‑engineered or misaligned with core purpose. **In simple terms:** Our tools can hinder the missions they were built for. Key Takeaway Align tools with purpose. Themes systems paradox self‑sabotage Mood analytical critical Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - project management - policy design - technology adoption Key Concepts systems theory organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can we audit our own systems? - When should we simplify? A Different Perspective It may overgeneralize without considering adaptive capacity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agendas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agendas/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) ## Related quotes > [I just think that things should be allowed to run their course, and not turned into a Disney ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-shaw/i-just-think-that-things-should-be-allowed-to-run-their-course-and/) [Fiona Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-shaw/) > [It's always interesting to try new things as much as you're allowed and see where you end up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-fry/it-s-always-interesting-to-try-new-things-as-much-as-you-re-allowed/) [Joel Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-fry/) > [As soon as you have a problem, it's insoluble. These things should never have been allowed to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/as-soon-as-you-have-a-problem-it-s-insoluble-these-things-should/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [I think that it's not a bad thing to not be too versed in the vocabulary of cinema, because you start to think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-think-that-it-s-not-a-bad-thing-to-not-be-too-versed-in-the/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [MMA has a lot of those things that you're not allowed to talk about; like, they're completely off-limits. So you have to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-nelson/mma-has-a-lot-of-those-things-that-you-re-not-allowed-to-talk-about/) [Roy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-nelson/) > [There is a list of things I'm not allowed to discuss at the dinner table! I am extraordinarily passionate about the Black Death, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-list-of-things-i-m-not-allowed-to-discuss-at-the-dinner/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sometimes I hate the things I am allowed to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-moskowitz/sometimes-i-hate-the-things-i-am-allowed-to-do/) [Hannah Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-moskowitz/) > [Obviously, there's a million things we're allowed to say on late-night cable that you're not allowed to say on a prime time broadcast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/obviously-there-s-a-million-things-we-re-allowed-to-say-on-late-night/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [I destroy things every day in the act of working and often recall a picture I had considered finished in order to rework it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-auerbach/i-destroy-things-every-day-in-the-act-of-working-and-often-recall-a/) [Frank Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-auerbach/) > [Human beings have a need, generally, to destroy things. The Freudian principle of civilisation is correct. There's always, always a difference between the family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cusk/human-beings-have-a-need-generally-to-destroy-things-the-freudian/) [Rachel Cusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cusk/) > [“Sometimes you have to destroy things, even people, in order to save them. (7)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/sometimes-you-have-to-destroy-things-even-people-in-order-to-save/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [“What is wrong with me? Why do I destroy the things I love?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/staci-hart/what-is-wrong-with-me-why-do-i-destroy-the-things-i-love/) [Staci Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/staci-hart/) > [I drive a Nissan Versa and would never spend real money on a car because I destroy things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-ratajkowski/i-drive-a-nissan-versa-and-would-never-spend-real-money-on-a-car/) [Emily Ratajkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-ratajkowski/) > [We destroy things with our curiosity. We shatter with our best intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/we-destroy-things-with-our-curiosity-we-shatter-with-our-best/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [I like the idea of something greater than us. We destroy things with our curiosity. We shatter with our best intentions. We are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/i-like-the-idea-of-something-greater-than-us-we-destroy-things-with/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) ## More by Craig D. Lounsbrough > [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“I’m not trying to save you from yourself. I’m trying to help you save yourself from yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-m-not-trying-to-save-you-from-yourself-i-m-trying-to-help-you-save/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The service of self terminates at our own death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-service-of-self-terminates-at-our-own-death/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“A ‘good’ father will tenderly cultivate his children. But a ‘good’ father who is also a ‘brave’ father will let the children without cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-good-father-will-tenderly-cultivate-his-children-but-a-good-father/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“It’s better to die for what’s right than live for what’s wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-s-better-to-die-for-what-s-right-than-live-for-what-s-wrong/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Thankfulness acknowledges that we can’t own anything, but we can experience everything. And just knowing that makes me thankful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/thankfulness-acknowledges-that-we-can-t-own-anything-but-we-can/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Do not be fooled. Passive prayers hastily tossed out as some second-thought appeasement at those junctures when life’s more pressing duties benevolently grant us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/do-not-be-fooled-passive-prayers-hastily-tossed-out-as-some-second/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The measure of who you are will always exceed measurement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-measure-of-who-you-are-will-always-exceed-measurement/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Darkness is the absence of light. Therefore, darkness is always fleeing from where light is and scurrying off to where it is not. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/darkness-is-the-absence-of-light-therefore-darkness-is-always-fleeing/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“To recklessly excuse a failure is to believe that I’ve effectively erased it from the story of my life, when I’ve actually imprinted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-recklessly-excuse-a-failure-is-to-believe-that-i-ve-effectively/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“If I’m my biggest fan, the only person in the stadium is probably me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-i-m-my-biggest-fan-the-only-person-in-the-stadium-is-probably-me/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) [Explore all 754 Craig D. Lounsbrough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## More Agendas quotes > [There's a dishonest tyranny in the liberal/progressive/socialist agenda that comes down and says 'we are here because we care about you; we want what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/there-s-a-dishonest-tyranny-in-the-liberal-progressive-socialist/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [At home we didnt talk about religion. So gradually the question faded away by itself and disappeared from the agenda. 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Judges must decide cases, not champion causes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/in-our-system-of-government-the-judicial-and-legislative-branches/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [It's when someone has an agenda of their own for the record that it doesn't work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/it-s-when-someone-has-an-agenda-of-their-own-for-the-record-that-it/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [The problem with merely writing so that you can be understood is that the wrong people, in advancing their agendas, are only too ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/the-problem-with-merely-writing-so-that-you-can-be-understood-is-that/) [William A. 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Particularly when the person's agenda is to intimidate through abusing their position or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/there-certainly-are-situations-where-i-feel-not-empowered-or/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Strong states and blocs of strong states are the only source of power and legitimacy capable of driving an international agenda in today's world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/strong-states-and-blocs-of-strong-states-are-the-only-source-of-power/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [He felt safe with her. 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