--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: President Truman famously asked for a…" description: "\"“President Truman famously asked for a “one-armed economist” who would take a clear stand; he was sick and tired of economists who kept saying, “On the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf0/daniel-kahneman-431_economics_president-truman-famously-asked-for-a-on_3228582.jpg" --- # President Truman famously asked for a “one-armed… ![“President Truman famously asked for a “one-armed economist” who would take a clear stand; he was sick and tired of economists who kept saying, “On the other hand …” quote by Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf0/daniel-kahneman-431_economics_president-truman-famously-asked-for-a-on_3228582.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf0/daniel-kahneman-431_economics_president-truman-famously-asked-for-a-on_3228582.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf0/daniel-kahneman-431_economics_president-truman-famously-asked-for-a-on_3228582.jpg) > ““President Truman famously asked for a “one-armed economist” who would take a clear stand; he was sick and tired of economists who kept saying, “On the other hand …”” [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economists often hedge with “other hand” arguments, hindering clear decisions. **In simple terms:** Economists’ indecision blocks clarity. Key Takeaway Demand clear stances. Themes decision making economics clarity Mood analytical critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business strategy - government policy - academic debate Key Concepts cognitive bias policy analysis communication Questions to Reflect On - When does “other hand” reasoning help? - How can you encourage decisive thinking? A Different Perspective Overly simplistic choices may ignore nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [President truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-truman/) [Sick and tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick-and-tired/) ## Related quotes > [“I made the only decision I ever knew how to make,' Truman famously asserted in one of his carefully scripted reminiscences. What does that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morrow/i-made-the-only-decision-i-ever-knew-how-to-make-truman-famously/) [James Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morrow/) > [“September 24, 1947, when President Truman signed a memo to the Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, authorizing the creation of “Operation Majestic Twelve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-salla/september-24-1947-when-president-truman-signed-a-memo-to-the/) Michael E. Salla > [At the time it seriously troubled me, but in drafting me as Marshall Plan Administrator, President Truman did as great a favor for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/at-the-time-it-seriously-troubled-me-but-in-drafting-me-as-marshall/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [In the first weeks after Hiroshima, extravagant statements by President Truman and other official spokesmen for the U.S. government transformed the inception of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/in-the-first-weeks-after-hiroshima-extravagant-statements-by/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [Eisenhower was a pretty peace-oriented president. Truman was a pretty hawkish. I would argue, if we had more time, I would argue Truman had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/eisenhower-was-a-pretty-peace-oriented-president-truman-was-a-pretty/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [I am going to build the kind of nation that President Roosevelt hoped for, President Truman worked for, and President Kennedy died for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-am-going-to-build-the-kind-of-nation-that-president-roosevelt-hoped/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [President Roosevelt and President Truman and President Eisenhower had the same experience, they all made the effort to get along with the Russians. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/president-roosevelt-and-president-truman-and-president-eisenhower-had/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [President Truman made his name by looking into contracting. And that's how integrity within the military procurement started in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/president-truman-made-his-name-by-looking-into-contracting-and-that-s/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [I would say that President Roosevelt probably was more intimately in touch with the press corps at the White House than President Truman was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-daniel/i-would-say-that-president-roosevelt-probably-was-more-intimately-in/) Clifton Daniel > [That was the principle of reparations to which President Truman agreed at Potsdam. And the United States will not agree to the taking from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-byrnes/that-was-the-principle-of-reparations-to-which-president-truman/) [James F. Byrnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-byrnes/) > [“Mr, Truman was jubilant. President Truman. True man; what a strange name, come to think of it. 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It is about the power of the state as applied to individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudd/politics-is-about-power-it-is-about-the-power-of-the-state-it-is/) [Kevin Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudd/) > [Having an economy that works for the 99% is achievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/having-an-economy-that-works-for-the-99-is-achievable/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) > [“a select group of high-performing companies have managed to close the strategy-to-performance gap through better planning and execution. These companies—Barclays, Cisco Systems, Dow Chemical,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-mankins/a-select-group-of-high-performing-companies-have-managed-to-close-the/) [Michael C. 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