--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Government should steer, not row." description: "\"Government should steer, not row.\" — Joe Lhota" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/joe-lhota-21421_government_government-should-steer-not-row-2871952_2871952.png" --- # Government should steer, not row. ![“Government should steer, not row.” quote by Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/joe-lhota-21421_government_government-should-steer-not-row-2871952_2871952.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/joe-lhota-21421_government_government-should-steer-not-row-2871952_2871952.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/joe-lhota-21421_government_government-should-steer-not-row-2871952_2871952.png) > “Government should steer, not row.” [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership should guide direction rather than do all the work itself. **In simple terms:** Leaders set course, not do everything. Key Takeaway Focus on direction, delegate execution. Themes leadership governance delegation Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - city planning - policy development - team management Key Concepts strategic planning role of government decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance guidance with autonomy? - When does steering become micromanagement? A Different Perspective Over‑guidance can stifle initiative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [The role of government is to steer us in the right direction, not do all the work for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/the-role-of-government-is-to-steer-us-in-the-right-direction-not-do/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [We steer completely clear of anything suggestive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-haley/we-steer-completely-clear-of-anything-suggestive/) [Bill Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-haley/) > [America is a country that prides itself on being able to identify a 'straight shooter' or 'the genuine article' when it comes to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/america-is-a-country-that-prides-itself-on-being-able-to-identify-a/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any DIRECTION you choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-brains-in-your-head-you-have-feet-in-your-shoes-you-can-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We are so often steered by our leaders towards the irrelevant so as to overlook our main concerns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabil-n-jamal-2/we-are-so-often-steered-by-our-leaders-towards-the-irrelevant-so-as/) [Nabil N. Jamal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabil-n-jamal-2/) > [“You are the driver steering your own dreams. Choose to knock down whatever crosses your way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-are-the-driver-steering-your-own-dreams-choose-to-knock-down/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“If we are not apt to steer our life and engineer our individuality, we become preys of the pecking order or panting cardboard characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/if-we-are-not-apt-to-steer-our-life-and-engineer-our-individuality-we/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [I don't think I will ever write about politics or foreign policy. I feel like there is so much good writing in those areas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/i-don-t-think-i-will-ever-write-about-politics-or-foreign-policy-i/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“People see by the light of their own stars. Some nights the stars waver in obscuring mists. I steer a straight course by my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ernest-nelson/people-see-by-the-light-of-their-own-stars-some-nights-the-stars/) Chris Ernest Nelson > [I still wear minis and cardigans, but I think I'll steer away from shoulder pads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-hoffs/i-still-wear-minis-and-cardigans-but-i-think-i-ll-steer-away-from/) [Susanna Hoffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-hoffs/) > [“Through sheer volume of passing days you will travel a great distance in your lifetime. Imagine where you might stand if your footsteps steered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/through-sheer-volume-of-passing-days-you-will-travel-a-great-distance/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Each petty hand Can steer a ship becalm'd; but he that will Govern and carry her to her ends, must know His tides, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/each-petty-hand-can-steer-a-ship-becalm-d-but-he-that-will-govern-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [“Beware of those who steer you away from your heart’s true happiness. It would make them happy to see you steer yourself right next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/beware-of-those-who-steer-you-away-from-your-heart-s-true-happiness/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [In Minnesota, we hold our leaders to a higher standard. We demand that the men and women we send to Washington stand above reproach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-bills/in-minnesota-we-hold-our-leaders-to-a-higher-standard-we-demand-that/) [Kurt Bills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-bills/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) ## More by Joe Lhota > [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [My best quality is that I talk to everyone. My worst quality is that I talk to everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/my-best-quality-is-that-i-talk-to-everyone-my-worst-quality-is-that-i/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [I am extremely respectful of the Jewish community. You know, I am Christian. I think of Jews as my older brothers. I mean, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/i-am-extremely-respectful-of-the-jewish-community-you-know-i-am/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [My earliest memories are of my father explaining to me the American Dream and how he expected me to do better than he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/my-earliest-memories-are-of-my-father-explaining-to-me-the-american/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [I was born here in the city, born in the Bronx. Son of a cop. One grandfather was a taxi driver; the other was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/i-was-born-here-in-the-city-born-in-the-bronx-son-of-a-cop-one/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [My favorite is always the book that I'm currently reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/my-favorite-is-always-the-book-that-i-m-currently-reading/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [I still am a virulent anti-communist. It is a bad system, an immoral system, and one that takes away the rights of people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/i-still-am-a-virulent-anti-communist-it-is-a-bad-system-an-immoral/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [Mayors of New York have been elected not because of their party label, but because of their philosophy and their approach overall, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/mayors-of-new-york-have-been-elected-not-because-of-their-party-label/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [I would leave school every day and walk to my grandparents' house under the El because everyone worked. I was 6 and walking home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/i-would-leave-school-every-day-and-walk-to-my-grandparents-house/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [It's been 35 years since I left school. Almost nine of them were in government; all the rest were in the private sector. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/it-s-been-35-years-since-i-left-school-almost-nine-of-them-were-in/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [Rudy Giuliani did some phenomenal things in the city if you think of the transformation of the city and the quality of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/rudy-giuliani-did-some-phenomenal-things-in-the-city-if-you-think-of/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [We've made tremendous strides and changes in the City of New York since 1994.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/we-ve-made-tremendous-strides-and-changes-in-the-city-of-new-york/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [I cannot be separated from Rudy Giuliani, but I am also not Rudy Giuliani.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/i-cannot-be-separated-from-rudy-giuliani-but-i-am-also-not-rudy/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [In 1964, I tried to convince my grandfather, who was active in the New York City firefighters union, to vote for Barry Goldwater over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/in-1964-i-tried-to-convince-my-grandfather-who-was-active-in-the-new/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [My dad was a New York City cop. His father was a New York City fireman. And my mother's dad was a city taxi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/my-dad-was-a-new-york-city-cop-his-father-was-a-new-york-city-fireman/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) [Explore all 29 Joe Lhota quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) ## More Government quotes > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Louisiana's spicy, colorful politics have saddled our state with a reputation for tolerating lax ethical standards in government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy/louisiana-s-spicy-colorful-politics-have-saddled-our-state-with-a/) [John Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [We can't have a government that will collapse in three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/we-can-t-have-a-government-that-will-collapse-in-three-months/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Browse all 21,248 Government quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Government should steer, not row.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joe Lhota" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/government-should-steer-not-row/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Government" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/government-should-steer-not-row/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/joe-lhota-21421_government_government-should-steer-not-row-2871952_2871952.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/joe-lhota-21421_government_government-should-steer-not-row-2871952_2871952.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/joe-lhota-21421_government_government-should-steer-not-row-2871952_2871952.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Government should steer, not row.” — Joe Lhota", "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": "Joe Lhota", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Government should steer, not row.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/government-should-steer-not-row/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/government-should-steer-not-row/#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 } } ] } ```