--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yet by assigning blame or pointing to…" description: "\"“Yet by assigning blame or pointing to specific causes we disregard the fact that the whole system only worked because everyone made approximate adjust..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/erik-hollnagel-236378_blame_yet-by-assigning-blame-or-pointing-to-sp_2914549.jpg" --- # Yet by assigning blame or pointing to specific causes we… ![“Yet by assigning blame or pointing to specific causes we disregard the fact that the whole system only worked because everyone made approximate adjustments to their work.” quote by Erik Hollnagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/erik-hollnagel-236378_blame_yet-by-assigning-blame-or-pointing-to-sp_2914549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/erik-hollnagel-236378_blame_yet-by-assigning-blame-or-pointing-to-sp_2914549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/erik-hollnagel-236378_blame_yet-by-assigning-blame-or-pointing-to-sp_2914549.jpg) > ““Yet by assigning blame or pointing to specific causes we disregard the fact that the whole system only worked because everyone made approximate adjustments to their work.”” [Erik Hollnagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-hollnagel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blaming individuals ignores that system performance depends on collective, approximate adjustments. **In simple terms:** Systems work through collective effort, not blame. Key Takeaway Focus on systemic improvement. Themes systems collaboration adjustments responsibility cause Mood analytical critical thoughtful Type Blame:1 Assigning Blame:0 Blame Pointing:0 Causes Disregard:0 Adjustments Work:1 When to use this quote - project management - process improvement - team dynamics Key Concepts systems theory organizational behavior complexity Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster collective responsibility? - What are the limits of individual blame? A Different Perspective Changing a whole system is hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adjustments Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adjustments-work-4213881/) [Assigning Blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assigning-blame-283997/) [Blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame/) [Blame Pointing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame-pointing-4213879/) [Causes Disregard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes-disregard-4213880/) ## Related quotes > [“Because assigning blame assigns responsibility. So I blame myself and give myself the responsibility to make it right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-matthews/because-assigning-blame-assigns-responsibility-so-i-blame-myself-and/) [Lena Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-matthews/) > [Concern yourself more with accepting responsibility than with assigning blame. Let the possibilities inspire you more than the obstacles discourage you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/concern-yourself-more-with-accepting-responsibility-than-with/) [Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/) > [Many think that assigning blame settles matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/many-think-that-assigning-blame-settles-matters/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“If you think everything is someone else's fault, you'd be wrong. If you think everything is your fault, you're also wrong. Assigning blame can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-fitzmaurice/if-you-think-everything-is-someone-else-s-fault-you-d-be-wrong-if-you/) [Sue Fitzmaurice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-fitzmaurice/) > [There is nothing wrong with underlining personal agency, but there is something unfair about using personal responsibility as a basis for assigning blame while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-farmer/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-underlining-personal-agency-but-there-is/) [Paul Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-farmer/) > [“There, arrows are thrown slowly — but they hurt. The first arrow comes from a one-sided decision — as though only one voice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wibowo/there-arrows-are-thrown-slowly-but-they-hurt-the-first-arrow-comes/) [Tommy Wibowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wibowo/) > [I don't blame anyone .. I did this to myself .. It's my fault .. Everything is my FAULT ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nurnizz95/i-don-t-blame-anyone-i-did-this-to-myself-it-s-my-fault-everything-is/) [Nurnizz95](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nurnizz95/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“Stop Blaming Others For Your Own Actions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/stop-blaming-others-for-your-own-actions/) [Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/) > [“In places where government priorities and market imperatives create a world so capricious that to help a neighbor is to risk your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/in-places-where-government-priorities-and-market-imperatives-create-a/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [Some of the things that I said I hated to say, but blame yourself mother fucker you made it this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedi-mind-tricks/some-of-the-things-that-i-said-i-hated-to-say-but-blame-yourself/) [Jedi Mind Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedi-mind-tricks/) > [I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-the-great/i-like-to-praise-and-reward-loudly-to-blame-quietly/) [Catherine the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-the-great/) > [Me mum used to always have the radio on - even now she has it on in every room. Me girlfriend sort of blames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/me-mum-used-to-always-have-the-radio-on-even-now-she-has-it-on-in/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) ## More Blame quotes > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Me mum used to always have the radio on - even now she has it on in every room. Me girlfriend sort of blames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/me-mum-used-to-always-have-the-radio-on-even-now-she-has-it-on-in/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-the-great/i-like-to-praise-and-reward-loudly-to-blame-quietly/) [Catherine the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-the-great/) > [Some of the things that I said I hated to say, but blame yourself mother fucker you made it this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedi-mind-tricks/some-of-the-things-that-i-said-i-hated-to-say-but-blame-yourself/) [Jedi Mind Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedi-mind-tricks/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In places where government priorities and market imperatives create a world so capricious that to help a neighbor is to risk your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/in-places-where-government-priorities-and-market-imperatives-create-a/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [“Stop Blaming Others For Your Own Actions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/stop-blaming-others-for-your-own-actions/) [Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't blame anyone .. I did this to myself .. It's my fault .. Everything is my FAULT ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nurnizz95/i-don-t-blame-anyone-i-did-this-to-myself-it-s-my-fault-everything-is/) [Nurnizz95](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nurnizz95/) > [“They would congratulate themselves every morning on keeping their integrity, and blame themselves each night for that missed opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/they-would-congratulate-themselves-every-morning-on-keeping-their/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I try to live my life where I end up at a point where I have no regrets. So I try to choose the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-aronofsky/i-try-to-live-my-life-where-i-end-up-at-a-point-where-i-have-no/) [Darren Aronofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-aronofsky/) > [How come you don't feel that magic in the air? I guess I knew you'll never be there. I guess I knew you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-come-you-don-t-feel-that-magic-in-the-air-i-guess-i-knew-you-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am down mentally. I can't understand how it happened and who is to blame? I don't know why the ground was rolled before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yeasin-khan/i-am-down-mentally-i-can-t-understand-how-it-happened-and-who-is-to/) [Yeasin Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yeasin-khan/) > [A refusal to admit one's mistake & not accepting responsibility for that mistake by blaming everyone else, is d beginning of one's decline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-refusal-to-admit-one-s-mistake-not-accepting-responsibility-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listen, the guy was not created by coverage from MSNBC and CNN. If you want to blame us for making Donald Trump president because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-tur/listen-the-guy-was-not-created-by-coverage-from-msnbc-and-cnn-if-you/) [Katy Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-tur/) [Browse all 3,779 Blame quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Yet by assigning blame or pointing to specific causes we disregard the fact that the whole system only worked because everyone made approximate adjustments to their work.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erik Hollnagel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-hollnagel/yet-by-assigning-blame-or-pointing-to-specific-causes-we-disregard/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blame" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-hollnagel/yet-by-assigning-blame-or-pointing-to-specific-causes-we-disregard/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/erik-hollnagel-236378_blame_yet-by-assigning-blame-or-pointing-to-sp_2914549.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/erik-hollnagel-236378_blame_yet-by-assigning-blame-or-pointing-to-sp_2914549.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/erik-hollnagel-236378_blame_yet-by-assigning-blame-or-pointing-to-sp_2914549.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Yet by assigning blame or pointing to specific causes we disregard the fact that the whole system only…” — Erik Hollnagel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erik Hollnagel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-hollnagel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Yet by assigning blame or pointing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-hollnagel/yet-by-assigning-blame-or-pointing-to-specific-causes-we-disregard/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-hollnagel/yet-by-assigning-blame-or-pointing-to-specific-causes-we-disregard/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```