--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Competence is a narrow ideal. Competence…" description: "\"Competence is a narrow ideal. Competence makes the trains run on time but doesn't know where they're going.\" — George H. W. Bush" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/george-h-w-bush-1459_competence_competence-is-a-narrow-ideal-competence_2449060.png" --- # Competence is a narrow ideal. Competence makes the trains… ![“Competence is a narrow ideal. Competence makes the trains run on time but doesn't know where they're going.” quote by George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/george-h-w-bush-1459_competence_competence-is-a-narrow-ideal-competence_2449060.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/george-h-w-bush-1459_competence_competence-is-a-narrow-ideal-competence_2449060.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/george-h-w-bush-1459_competence_competence-is-a-narrow-ideal-competence_2449060.png) > “Competence is a narrow ideal. Competence makes the trains run on time but doesn't know where they're going.” [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Competence ensures tasks are done, but without vision it lacks direction and purpose. **In simple terms:** Competence alone isn’t enough without a guiding vision. Key Takeaway Pair competence with clear vision. Themes leadership vision competence Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - project management - organizational development - career advancement Key Concepts strategic planning purposeful execution direction setting Questions to Reflect On - How can you develop a vision beyond competence? - What steps ensure competence aligns with purpose? A Different Perspective Vision may be hard to define or communicate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) [Trains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trains/) ## Related quotes > [Competence is the creed of the technocrat who makes sure the gears mesh but doesn't for a second understand the magic of the machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/competence-is-the-creed-of-the-technocrat-who-makes-sure-the-gears/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I used to play with model trains when I was a kid, and then I used to study history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-taylor/i-used-to-play-with-model-trains-when-i-was-a-kid-and-then-i-used-to/) [Alan Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-taylor/) > [“The trains in any country contain the essential paraphernalia of the culture: Thai trains have the shower jar with the glazed dragon on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-trains-in-any-country-contain-the-essential-paraphernalia-of-the/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [“The great trains are going out all over Europe, one by one, but still, three times a week, the Orient Express thunders superbly over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/the-great-trains-are-going-out-all-over-europe-one-by-one-but-still/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [I never expected that. I didn't aim for that. All I wanted was to get some nice pictures of trains at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-that-all-i-wanted-was-to-get/) [O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/) > [Trains are wonderful… To travel by train is to see nature and human beings, towns and churches and rivers, in fact, to see life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/trains-are-wonderful-to-travel-by-train-is-to-see-nature-and-human/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [My own experience with trains dates to long-ago childhood trips with my family in Mississippi to see my grandmother off at the station in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-huffman/my-own-experience-with-trains-dates-to-long-ago-childhood-trips-with/) [Alan Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-huffman/) > [A library is a platform upon which we catch trains to Every Where and Any Place, Another Time and Across Space. All aboard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/a-library-is-a-platform-upon-which-we-catch-trains-to-every-where-and/) [Esme Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [Akshay is incredibly strong. He trains to actually be physically strong, not just to look muscular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-kapoor/akshay-is-incredibly-strong-he-trains-to-actually-be-physically/) [Kunal Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-kapoor/) > [“Trains tap into some deep American collective memory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-frank/trains-tap-into-some-deep-american-collective-memory/) Dana Frank > [“The trains full of the Strange ran on time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-goldberg-sloan/the-trains-full-of-the-strange-ran-on-time/) [Holly Goldberg Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-goldberg-sloan/) > [Another train will come. Why rush? Why worry? Why go crazy? Another train will come. And sure enough, another train going my way was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esmeralda-santiago/another-train-will-come-why-rush-why-worry-why-go-crazy-another-train/) [Esmeralda Santiago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esmeralda-santiago/) > [I just love 'Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mccausland/i-just-love-planes-trains-and-automobiles/) [Chris McCausland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mccausland/) > [“It seems to me that the further East you go the more unpunctual are the trains. What ought they to be in China? -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/it-seems-to-me-that-the-further-east-you-go-the-more-unpunctual-are/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep out alone under the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/cherish-your-solitude-take-trains-by-yourself-to-places-you-have/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) ## More by George H. W. Bush > [America's freedom is the example to which the world expires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/america-s-freedom-is-the-example-to-which-the-world-expires/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I am not one who - who flamboyantly believes in throwing a lot of words around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-am-not-one-who-who-flamboyantly-believes-in-throwing-a-lot-of-words/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Be bold in your caring, and be bold in your dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/be-bold-in-your-caring-and-be-bold-in-your-dreaming/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [We can find meaning and reward by serving some higher purpose than ourselves, a shining purpose, the illumination of a Thousand Points of Light...We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/we-can-find-meaning-and-reward-by-serving-some-higher-purpose-than/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [International exchanges are not a great tide to sweep away all differences, but they will slowly wear away at the obstacles to peace as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/international-exchanges-are-not-a-great-tide-to-sweep-away-all/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Well, I think everybody is frustrated by the finances of the U.N. and the inability to solve problems of war and peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/well-i-think-everybody-is-frustrated-by-the-finances-of-the-u-n-and/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [No, I'm not anguished and tormented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/no-i-m-not-anguished-and-tormented/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [You know I vowed when I became President not to talk about the loneliest toughest job in the world and I didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/you-know-i-vowed-when-i-became-president-not-to-talk-about-the/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I think it's very hard to fight the war on terrorism if we're in retreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-think-it-s-very-hard-to-fight-the-war-on-terrorism-if-we-re-in/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I firmly believed we should not march into Baghdad ...To occupy Iraq would instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab world against us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-firmly-believed-we-should-not-march-into-baghdad-to-occupy-iraq/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Ozone Man, Ozone. He's crazy, way out, far out, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/ozone-man-ozone-he-s-crazy-way-out-far-out-man/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [What's wrong with being a boring kind of guy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/what-s-wrong-with-being-a-boring-kind-of-guy/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [The liberation of Kuwait has begun. In conjunction with the forces of our coalition partners, the United States has moved under the code name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/the-liberation-of-kuwait-has-begun-in-conjunction-with-the-forces-of/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [The United States will continue its efforts to improve our understanding of climate change - to seek hard data, accurate models, and new ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/the-united-states-will-continue-its-efforts-to-improve-our/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [If you believe that there's a being superior to yourself and that will guide you, strengthen you that helps a lot but, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/if-you-believe-that-there-s-a-being-superior-to-yourself-and-that/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) [Explore all 239 George H. W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) ## More Competence quotes > [A bad artist almost always tries to conceal his incompetence by whooping up a new formula.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-bad-artist-almost-always-tries-to-conceal-his-incompetence-by/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“You understand how much you know about a subject the moment you give explanations to someone who doesn't know anything about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigina-sgarro/you-understand-how-much-you-know-about-a-subject-the-moment-you-give/) [Luigina Sgarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigina-sgarro/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [You can't fake competence, creativity, or sexual arousal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-can-t-fake-competence-creativity-or-sexual-arousal/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Everybody's got a different circle of competence. The important thing is not how big the circle is. The important thing is staying inside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/everybody-s-got-a-different-circle-of-competence-the-important-thing/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Friendships are nice. So is competence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/friendships-are-nice-so-is-competence/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Having spent years ruining the housing markets with their interference, leading to a housing meltdown that has taken the whole economy down with it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/having-spent-years-ruining-the-housing-markets-with-their/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [ A nominee \[to Supreme Court\] must possess the competence, character and temperament to serve on the bench. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/a-nominee-to-supreme-court-must-possess-the-competence-character-and/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Over the first two weeks of the Donald Trump administration, Steve Bannon has emerged as one of the most powerful figures in the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-goodman/over-the-first-two-weeks-of-the-donald-trump-administration-steve/) [Amy Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-goodman/) > [The individual attributes of warmth and competence are often perceived to be negatively correlated. That doesn't mean they actually are, but that's how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/the-individual-attributes-of-warmth-and-competence-are-often/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/do-not-stop-thinking-of-life-as-an-adventure-you-have-no-security/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Great writers zealously learn the craft of their profession so they can release the power and the depth of their imagination and experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bishop/great-writers-zealously-learn-the-craft-of-their-profession-so-they/) [Leonard Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bishop/) Browse all 452 Competence quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Competence is a narrow ideal. Competence makes the trains run on time but doesn't know where they're going.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George H. W. 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