--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Committees are, by nature, timid. They…" description: "\"Committees are, by nature, timid. They are based on the premise of safety in numbers; content to survive inconspicuously, rather than take risks and mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/ferdinand-porsche-39859_committee_committees-are-by-nature-timid-they-are_2906402.png" --- # Committees are, by nature, timid. They are based on the… ![“Committees are, by nature, timid. They are based on the premise of safety in numbers; content to survive inconspicuously, rather than take risks and move independently ahead. Without independence, without the freedom for new ideas to be tried, to fail, and to ultimately succeed, the world will not…” quote by Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/ferdinand-porsche-39859_committee_committees-are-by-nature-timid-they-are_2906402.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/ferdinand-porsche-39859_committee_committees-are-by-nature-timid-they-are_2906402.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebe/ferdinand-porsche-39859_committee_committees-are-by-nature-timid-they-are_2906402.png) > “Committees are, by nature, timid. They are based on the premise of safety in numbers; content to survive inconspicuously, rather than take risks and move independently ahead. Without independence, without the freedom for new ideas to be tried, to fail, and to ultimately succeed, the world will not move ahead, but rather live in fear of it's own potential” [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Committees prioritize safety over risk, stifling innovation and independence needed for progress. **In simple terms:** Committees favor safety, limiting innovation. Key Takeaway Encourage independent thinking within groups. Themes leadership innovation risk Mood critical analytical Type strategic motivational When to use this quote - board meetings - project teams - research collaborations Key Concepts group dynamics creativity organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can committees balance safety and bold ideas? - What structures foster independent innovation? A Different Perspective Too much caution can hinder necessary change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Moving ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-ahead/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [New ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-ideas/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Most of the time they buy what other people buy. They move in great schools, like bluefish, all identical. There is safety in numbers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hughes/most-of-the-time-they-buy-what-other-people-buy-they-move-in-great/) [Robert Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hughes/) > [No matter that astronauts and cosmonauts had perished in precisely designed and carefully tested machines. Solid engineering could always provide a safety margin, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-burrows/no-matter-that-astronauts-and-cosmonauts-had-perished-in-precisely/) William E. Burrows > [There is, of course, great value in belonging to a group. Safety in numbers, for one. But there is also a mathematical explanation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-berns/there-is-of-course-great-value-in-belonging-to-a-group-safety-in/) [Gregory Berns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-berns/) > [One should not associate with controversy; one should always reach for the highest ratings; one should never forget that there is safety in numbers;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-george-peterson/one-should-not-associate-with-controversy-one-should-always-reach-for/) [Peter George Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-george-peterson/) > [I think there must be safety in numbers. If you f - up enough times, they forget which one you really did. They start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/i-think-there-must-be-safety-in-numbers-if-you-f-up-enough-times-they/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [There is safety in numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-safety-in-numbers/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“Arthur: If I asked you where the hell we were, would I regret it? Ford: We're safe. Arthur: Oh good. Ford: We're in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/arthur-if-i-asked-you-where-the-hell-we-were-would-i-regret-it-ford/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Denying what you are didn't keep people from knowing what you are." "And flaunting it isn't what saved you." Ykka takes a deep breath.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/denying-what-you-are-didn-t-keep-people-from-knowing-what-you-are-and/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [This outbreak is moving ahead of efforts to control it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nabarro/this-outbreak-is-moving-ahead-of-efforts-to-control-it/) [David Nabarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nabarro/) > [We will not allow the past to drag us down and stop us from moving ahead. We understand where we should move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-will-not-allow-the-past-to-drag-us-down-and-stop-us-from-moving/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [“But this thing that almost never was still beckons, I wanted to tell him. They can never undo it, never unwrite it, never unlive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/but-this-thing-that-almost-never-was-still-beckons-i-wanted-to-tell/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [Winning and losing are both very temporary things. Having done one or the other, you move ahead. Gloating over a victory or sulking over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-knox/winning-and-losing-are-both-very-temporary-things-having-done-one-or/) [Chuck Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-knox/) > [I pay tribute to John Major's achievement in persuading the other 11 Community Heads of Government that they could move ahead to a Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-pay-tribute-to-john-major-s-achievement-in-persuading-the-other-11/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Small business in America is booming. The job creator in America, small business, is absolutely moving ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-domenici/small-business-in-america-is-booming-the-job-creator-in-america-small/) [Pete Domenici](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-domenici/) > [We will have equality when a female schlemiel moves ahead as fast as a male schlemiel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle-ramey/we-will-have-equality-when-a-female-schlemiel-moves-ahead-as-fast-as/) [Estelle Ramey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle-ramey/) ## More by Ferdinand Porsche > [The perfect racing car crosses the finish line first and subsequently falls into its component parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-porsche/the-perfect-racing-car-crosses-the-finish-line-first-and-subsequently/) [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) > [Good design should be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-porsche/good-design-should-be-honest/) [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) > [Life itself is a race, marked by a start, and a finish. It is what we learn during the race, and how we apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-porsche/life-itself-is-a-race-marked-by-a-start-and-a-finish-it-is-what-we/) [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) > [If one does not fail at times, then one has not challenged himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-porsche/if-one-does-not-fail-at-times-then-one-has-not-challenged-himself/) [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) > [Design must be functional and functionality must be translated into visual aesthetics, without any reliance on gimmicks that have to be explained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-porsche/design-must-be-functional-and-functionality-must-be-translated-into/) [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) > [I came into the world at the same time as the auto, if you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-porsche/i-came-into-the-world-at-the-same-time-as-the-auto-if-you-will/) [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) > [I couldn't find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-porsche/i-couldn-t-find-the-sports-car-of-my-dreams-so-i-built-it-myself/) [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) > [Change is easy. Improvement is far more difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-porsche/change-is-easy-improvement-is-far-more-difficult/) [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) > [In the beginning I looked around and, not finding the automobile of my dreams, decided to build it myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-porsche/in-the-beginning-i-looked-around-and-not-finding-the-automobile-of-my/) [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) > [Porsche…there is no substitute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-porsche/porsche-there-is-no-substitute/) [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) [Explore all 11 Ferdinand Porsche quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) ## More Committee quotes > [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [What is interesting in Washington, D.C., is I've never missed a vote. The veterans' committee keeps track of hearings, and I've never missed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/what-is-interesting-in-washington-d-c-is-i-ve-never-missed-a-vote-the/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [It is necessary to get a lot of men together, for the show of the thing, otherwise the world will not believe. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/it-is-necessary-to-get-a-lot-of-men-together-for-the-show-of-the/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Government likes committees... a lot. Committees kill all the really good ideas and generally all the really bad ideas. They produce middle-ground mush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/government-likes-committees-a-lot-committees-kill-all-the-really-good/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/if-the-many-allegations-made-to-this-date-are-true-then-the-burglars/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [One of the great joys this year and the year before has been how all of the people in this body, men and women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hayes/one-of-the-great-joys-this-year-and-the-year-before-has-been-how-all/) [Robin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hayes/) > [I was sent there by the Free Congress Committee, headed by Paul Weyrich. Fred Smith and I were sent down as observers, with reporters'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-lee-ray/i-was-sent-there-by-the-free-congress-committee-headed-by-paul/) [Dixie Lee Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-lee-ray/) > [Some people advocate public nomination and a three-track system - allowing voters and political parties to make nominations along with the committee. These people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/some-people-advocate-public-nomination-and-a-three-track-system/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [As you know in this committee, we have all of HUD, and HUD is responsible for so many programs that determine the quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/as-you-know-in-this-committee-we-have-all-of-hud-and-hud-is/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [I believe in a running back by committee. Always have. Always been taught that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dorsey/i-believe-in-a-running-back-by-committee-always-have-always-been/) [John Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dorsey/) > [As chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee - the chief tax-writing body in Congress - I understand that true comprehensive tax reform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brady/as-chairman-of-the-house-ways-and-means-committee-the-chief-tax/) [Kevin Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brady/) > [Committees are to get everybody together and homogenize their thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-linkletter/committees-are-to-get-everybody-together-and-homogenize-their-thinking/) [Art Linkletter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-linkletter/) > [I'm chairing a UNESCO committee on how to improve global Internet communications for science; help third-world people get onto the Net so they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-lederberg/i-m-chairing-a-unesco-committee-on-how-to-improve-global-internet/) [Joshua Lederberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-lederberg/) > [Committees are consumers and sometimes sterilizers of ideas, rarely creators of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/committees-are-consumers-and-sometimes-sterilizers-of-ideas-rarely/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) Browse all 337 Committee quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Committees are, by nature, timid. They are based on the premise of safety in numbers; content to survive inconspicuously, rather than take risks and move independently ahead. 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