--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The person who sweeps the floor should…" description: "\"The person who sweeps the floor should choose the broom.\" — Howard Behar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/howard-behar-53006_broom_the-person-who-sweeps-the-floor-should-c_344793.png" --- # The person who sweeps the floor should choose the broom. ![“The person who sweeps the floor should choose the broom.” quote by Howard Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/howard-behar-53006_broom_the-person-who-sweeps-the-floor-should-c_344793.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/howard-behar-53006_broom_the-person-who-sweeps-the-floor-should-c_344793.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/howard-behar-53006_broom_the-person-who-sweeps-the-floor-should-c_344793.png) > “The person who sweeps the floor should choose the broom.” [Howard Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-behar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People should have agency over the tools they use, choosing what best fits their work. **In simple terms:** Choose your own tools. Key Takeaway Empower workers to select their equipment. Themes empowerment workplace autonomy tool selection Mood practical reflective Type leadership motivational When to use this quote - project management - craftsmanship - team leadership Key Concepts agency productivity decision making Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to assign tools? - How does tool choice affect outcomes? A Different Perspective Not all tasks allow free choice of tools. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [“Socioeconomic formations versus an officer’s heels on a parquet floor, which would I choose?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/socioeconomic-formations-versus-an-officer-s-heels-on-a-parquet-floor/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [There's times when I'm cleaning the kitchen, and while I'm doing that, I'm singing and air guitaring with a broom to 'You Should Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/there-s-times-when-i-m-cleaning-the-kitchen-and-while-i-m-doing-that/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [A broom is drearily sweeping up the broken pieces of yesterday's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/a-broom-is-drearily-sweeping-up-the-broken-pieces-of-yesterday-s-life/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [Do you want to be great? Pick up a broom and sweep the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/do-you-want-to-be-great-pick-up-a-broom-and-sweep-the-floor/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I can juggle, not well... I can balance a broom on my chin. I can do very simple carny tricks, a little sleight of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/i-can-juggle-not-well-i-can-balance-a-broom-on-my-chin-i-can-do-very/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [The first time I passed through the country (Switzerland) I had the impression it was swept down with a broom from one end to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernesto-sabato/the-first-time-i-passed-through-the-country-switzerland-i-had-the/) [Ernesto Sabato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernesto-sabato/) > [He's swept with the broom of contempt and the rooms have an empty ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/he-s-swept-with-the-broom-of-contempt-and-the-rooms-have-an-empty-ring/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [Basic principles: no matter what, no matter when, no matter who... any man has a chance to sweep any woman off her feet. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/basic-principles-no-matter-what-no-matter-when-no-matter-who-any-man/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [A new broom can sweep the floor, but an old broom knows where the dirt is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/a-new-broom-can-sweep-the-floor-but-an-old-broom-knows-where-the-dirt/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [A broom sweeps clean, and itself becomes soiled; cleanse yourself of those offenses of which you may feel guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baal-shem-tov/a-broom-sweeps-clean-and-itself-becomes-soiled-cleanse-yourself-of/) [Baal Shem Tov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baal-shem-tov/) > [After the hockey stick, Sardara Singh scores with the broom! A great effort by him towards a Swachh Bharat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/after-the-hockey-stick-sardara-singh-scores-with-the-broom-a-great/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [The broom wasn't as comforting as a flamethrower would have been, but it was better than a mop and certainly more threatening than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/the-broom-wasn-t-as-comforting-as-a-flamethrower-would-have-been-but/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Meditation is like a giant broom for sweeping away any stagnant or blocked energy that you may have buried deep in your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-king/meditation-is-like-a-giant-broom-for-sweeping-away-any-stagnant-or/) [Deborah King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-king/) > [There should be less talk. . . . What do you do then? Take a broom and clean someone's house. That says enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/there-should-be-less-talk-what-do-you-do-then-take-a-broom-and-clean/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The Blessed Virgin used me like a broom, and then put me back in my place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-soubirous/the-blessed-virgin-used-me-like-a-broom-and-then-put-me-back-in-my/) [Bernadette Soubirous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-soubirous/) ## More by Howard Behar > [If there was no praise or criticism in the world, then who would you be?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-behar/if-there-was-no-praise-or-criticism-in-the-world-then-who-would-you-be/) [Howard Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-behar/) > [When we know why we're here as individuals and leaders, when our people know why they're here, a sense of purpose carries us forward,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-behar/when-we-know-why-we-re-here-as-individuals-and-leaders-when-our/) [Howard Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-behar/) > [Our success is directly related to our clarity and honesty about who we are, who we're not, where we want to go, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-behar/our-success-is-directly-related-to-our-clarity-and-honesty-about-who/) [Howard Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-behar/) > [“Do it because it's right, not because it's right for your resume.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-behar/do-it-because-it-s-right-not-because-it-s-right-for-your-resume/) [Howard Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-behar/) > [“Think like a person of action; act like a person of thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-behar/think-like-a-person-of-action-act-like-a-person-of-thought/) [Howard Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-behar/) > [“Unfortunately, in many cases, the rule book goes way too far - it tries to tell people how to be instead of explaining what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-behar/unfortunately-in-many-cases-the-rule-book-goes-way-too-far-it-tries/) [Howard Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-behar/) [Explore all 7 Howard Behar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-behar/) ## More Broom quotes > [Seeking: Man with broom. Want to be swept off my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-s/seeking-man-with-broom-want-to-be-swept-off-my-feet/) [Laura S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-s/) > [Kanan is a big road through the Santa Monica Mountains. Between mid-March and mid-April, when you get over to the western side of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/kanan-is-a-big-road-through-the-santa-monica-mountains-between-mid/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [“Listen, Harr,y can I have a go on it? Can I?" "I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet!" said Hermoine shrilly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/listen-harr-y-can-i-have-a-go-on-it-can-i-i-don-t-think-anyone-should/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“For those who set out to clean the dirt of the world, the best broom is their own clean morals, because you can't clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/for-those-who-set-out-to-clean-the-dirt-of-the-world-the-best-broom/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [There's times when I'm cleaning the kitchen, and while I'm doing that, I'm singing and air guitaring with a broom to 'You Should Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/there-s-times-when-i-m-cleaning-the-kitchen-and-while-i-m-doing-that/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [“A burnt broom that has had enough, and refuses to burn further...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/a-burnt-broom-that-has-had-enough-and-refuses-to-burn-further/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I've never held a broom in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lola-young/i-ve-never-held-a-broom-in-my-life/) [Lola Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lola-young/) > [“They need to practice harder," he said. 'If they're really going to do this, they need to work much harder.' 'They will," I assured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-john/they-need-to-practice-harder-he-said-if-they-re-really-going-to-do/) [Antony John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-john/) > [Shine like the day I set cosmic eyes on you, friend, by the light of the sweet squash in my lovely laser broom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-chicho/shine-like-the-day-i-set-cosmic-eyes-on-you-friend-by-the-light-of/) [Bradley Chicho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-chicho/) > [Give me a guitar, give me a piano, give me a broom and string; I wouldn't get bored anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/give-me-a-guitar-give-me-a-piano-give-me-a-broom-and-string-i-wouldn/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I'm 51; I'm younger than Tony Blair. I don't have a dicky heart; I'm up like a broom handle in the morning. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-galloway/i-m-51-i-m-younger-than-tony-blair-i-don-t-have-a-dicky-heart-i-m-up/) [George Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-galloway/) > [A broom that consitutes a nuisance at sight,become use when the room is dirty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-stainless-wizzy/a-broom-that-consitutes-a-nuisance-at-sight-become-use-when-the-room/) [Don Stainless Wizzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-stainless-wizzy/) > [I was gonna clean my room, until I got high. I was gonna get up and find the broom, but then I got high.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afroman/i-was-gonna-clean-my-room-until-i-got-high-i-was-gonna-get-up-and/) [Afroman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afroman/) > [There should be less talk. . . . What do you do then? Take a broom and clean someone's house. That says enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/there-should-be-less-talk-what-do-you-do-then-take-a-broom-and-clean/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Meditation is like a giant broom for sweeping away any stagnant or blocked energy that you may have buried deep in your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-king/meditation-is-like-a-giant-broom-for-sweeping-away-any-stagnant-or/) [Deborah King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-king/) Browse all 66 Broom quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The person who sweeps the floor should choose the broom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Howard Behar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-behar/the-person-who-sweeps-the-floor-should-choose-the-broom/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Broom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-behar/the-person-who-sweeps-the-floor-should-choose-the-broom/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/howard-behar-53006_broom_the-person-who-sweeps-the-floor-should-c_344793.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/howard-behar-53006_broom_the-person-who-sweeps-the-floor-should-c_344793.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/howard-behar-53006_broom_the-person-who-sweeps-the-floor-should-c_344793.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The person who sweeps the floor should choose the broom.” — Howard Behar", "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": "Howard Behar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-behar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The person who sweeps the floor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-behar/the-person-who-sweeps-the-floor-should-choose-the-broom/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-behar/the-person-who-sweeps-the-floor-should-choose-the-broom/#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 } } ] } ```