--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Put two or three men in positions of…" description: "\"Put two or three men in positions of conflicting authority. This will force them to work at loggerheads, allowing you to be the ultimate arbiter.\" — Fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_allowing_put-two-or-three-men-in-positions-of-con_556536.jpg" --- # Put two or three men in positions of conflicting… ![“Put two or three men in positions of conflicting authority. This will force them to work at loggerheads, allowing you to be the ultimate arbiter.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_allowing_put-two-or-three-men-in-positions-of-con_556536.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_allowing_put-two-or-three-men-in-positions-of-con_556536.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_allowing_put-two-or-three-men-in-positions-of-con_556536.jpg) > “Put two or three men in positions of conflicting authority. This will force them to work at loggerheads, allowing you to be the ultimate arbiter.” [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Placing leaders in opposing roles creates tension that reveals the ultimate decision-maker's power. **In simple terms:** Conflict among leaders highlights who truly controls outcomes. Key Takeaway Use structured conflict to clarify authority and improve governance. Themes leadership conflict authority Mood strategic analytical Type organizational political When to use this quote - team management - policy development - crisis response - corporate governance Key Concepts organizational dynamics power structures decision theory Questions to Reflect On - How to balance constructive tension with collaboration? - When does rivalry become destructive? A Different Perspective Conflict can breed dysfunction if not managed wisely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [The ultimate arbiter is the people of the Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-ultimate-arbiter-is-the-people-of-the-union/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Time, the ultimate arbiter of what is of value in life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-david-miller/time-the-ultimate-arbiter-of-what-is-of-value-in-life/) Aaron David Miller > [But the Chief Justice says, 'There must be an ultimate arbiter somewhere.' True, there must; but does that prove it is either party? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/but-the-chief-justice-says-there-must-be-an-ultimate-arbiter/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Wisdom may be the ultimate arbiter, but is seldom the immediate agent in human affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/wisdom-may-be-the-ultimate-arbiter-but-is-seldom-the-immediate-agent/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [Taking the decision-making process away from people disempowers them. It also makes them much less likely to buy into the decision, however right it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/taking-the-decision-making-process-away-from-people-disempowers-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To vest a few fallible men — prosecutors, judges, jurors — with vast powers of literary or artistic censorship, to convert them into what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/to-vest-a-few-fallible-men-prosecutors-judges-jurors-with-vast-powers/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [The gratitude ... should be commensurate with the boundless blessings which we enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/the-gratitude-should-be-commensurate-with-the-boundless-blessings/) [James K. 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I hate war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-hate-war/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/all-of-our-people-all-over-the-country-except-the-pure-blooded/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels. 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Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Too often in recent history liberal governments have been wrecked on rocks of loose fiscal policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/too-often-in-recent-history-liberal-governments-have-been-wrecked-on/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The frontier of America is on the Rhine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-frontier-of-america-is-on-the-rhine/) [Franklin D. 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