Humor Quote by Eric Frank Russell
““You seem to fit the part all right. Your technical record is first-class. Your disciplinary record stinks to high heaven.' He eyed his listener blank faced. 'Two charges of refusing to obey a lawful order. Four for insolence and insubordination. One for parading with your cap on back to front. What on earth made you do that?' 'I had a bad attack of what-the-hell, sir,' explained Leeming.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: "The Great Explosion" by Eric Frank Russell, 1959
A competent person can be dismissed for minor infractions, highlighting how bureaucracy can ignore true ability.
In simple terms: Minor faults can outweigh major skills.
Key Takeaway
Beware of over‑emphasizing minor errors.
Themes
bureaucracy
discipline
competence
Mood
frustrated
critical
Type
cautionary
reflective
When to use this quote
- military review
- performance evaluation
- career advancement
Key Concepts
organizational behavior
authority
justice
Questions to Reflect On
- How do institutions balance record versus minor misconduct?
- What safeguards prevent disproportionate punishments?
A Different Perspective
Even with strong performance, small violations can dominate judgments.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
