--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: only delusible idiots like our current…" description: "\"“only delusible idiots like our current chief executive can be persuaded to don the robes of high office. Nice guys don’t crave power.)”\" — John Brunner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/john-brunner-10043_nice-guys_only-delusible-idiots-like-our-current-c_2008105.jpg" --- # only delusible idiots like our current chief executive can… ![“only delusible idiots like our current chief executive can be persuaded to don the robes of high office. Nice guys don’t crave power.)” quote by John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/john-brunner-10043_nice-guys_only-delusible-idiots-like-our-current-c_2008105.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/john-brunner-10043_nice-guys_only-delusible-idiots-like-our-current-c_2008105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/john-brunner-10043_nice-guys_only-delusible-idiots-like-our-current-c_2008105.jpg) > ““only delusible idiots like our current chief executive can be persuaded to don the robes of high office. Nice guys don’t crave power.)”” [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes leaders who seek power for ego rather than service, implying they are foolish and unqualified. **In simple terms:** Power‑hungry leaders are often incompetent. Key Takeaway Beware of ego‑driven authority. Themes leadership ego politics Mood cynical critical Type political satirical When to use this quote - corporate governance - political elections - team management - public office Key Concepts authority incompetence hubris Questions to Reflect On - What qualities truly make a good leader? - How can organizations limit ego‑driven power? A Different Perspective Such leaders may still achieve results despite flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chief executive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief-executive/) [Delusible Idiots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusible-idiots-3571341/) [Executive Persuaded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive-persuaded-3571340/) [Idiots Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiots-like-3379705/) [Nice guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-guys/) ## Related quotes > [Don't let the idiots that like to bring you down, succeed in discouraging you. I let it get to me a while ago, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-grimmie/don-t-let-the-idiots-that-like-to-bring-you-down-succeed-in/) [Christina Grimmie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-grimmie/) > [Men. <...> They're idiots. It's like they all take a vow of stupidity or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/men-they-re-idiots-it-s-like-they-all-take-a-vow-of-stupidity-or/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [The chief executive who knows his strengths and weaknesses as a leader is likely to be far more effective than the one who remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adair/the-chief-executive-who-knows-his-strengths-and-weaknesses-as-a/) [John Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adair/) > [When a company seeks a new chief executive officer, or a university a new vice-chancellor, enormous trouble is taken to find the best person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/when-a-company-seeks-a-new-chief-executive-officer-or-a-university-a/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Whatever the political affiliation of our next President, whatever his views may be on all the issues and problems that rush in upon us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/whatever-the-political-affiliation-of-our-next-president-whatever-his/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I think Gary Johnson would be capable of being a good chief executive and yes a commander in chief - Aleppo to the contrary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/i-think-gary-johnson-would-be-capable-of-being-a-good-chief-executive/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [Mr. Trump is a chief executive in the private setting of a very complex business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-collins/mr-trump-is-a-chief-executive-in-the-private-setting-of-a-very/) [Chris Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-collins/) > [The salary of the chief executive of a large corporation is not a market award for achievement. It is frequently in the nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-salary-of-the-chief-executive-of-a-large-corporation-is-not-a/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [If the chief executive cannot have a party background, how can she ensure her team is wholeheartedly united?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/if-the-chief-executive-cannot-have-a-party-background-how-can-she/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [And obviously, with hindsight now, now knowing what went on in the company, it would have been absolutely appropriate back then for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-a-watson/and-obviously-with-hindsight-now-now-knowing-what-went-on-in-the/) [Tom A. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-a-watson/) > [The governor is Virginia's chief executive and represents the commonwealth at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/the-governor-is-virginia-s-chief-executive-and-represents-the/) [Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/) > [At the heart of any good business is a chief executive officer with one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/at-the-heart-of-any-good-business-is-a-chief-executive-officer-with/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Ethics must begin at the top of an organization. It is a leadership issue and the chief executive must set the example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-f-hennessey/ethics-must-begin-at-the-top-of-an-organization-it-is-a-leadership/) [Edward F. Hennessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-f-hennessey/) > [The principles that make someone a master in the chief executive role deal with whether or not they can thrive in an environment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/the-principles-that-make-someone-a-master-in-the-chief-executive-role/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) > [Eventually, I'd like to have some sort of role like a chief executive in a football club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green/eventually-i-d-like-to-have-some-sort-of-role-like-a-chief-executive/) [Robert Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green/) ## More by John Brunner > [For all the claims one hears about the liberating impact of the data-net, the truth is that it's wished on most of us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/for-all-the-claims-one-hears-about-the-liberating-impact-of-the-data/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [“Take stock, citizen bacillus, Now that there are so many billions of you, Bleeding through your opened veins, Into your bathtub, or into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/take-stock-citizen-bacillus-now-that-there-are-so-many-billions-of/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [“What hurt him most of all, made him feel like a sick child aware of terrible wrongness and yet incapable of explaining it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/what-hurt-him-most-of-all-made-him-feel-like-a-sick-child-aware-of/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [“He had many names, but one nature, and this unique nature made him subject to certain laws not binding upon ordinary persons. In a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/he-had-many-names-but-one-nature-and-this-unique-nature-made-him/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [“True, you’re not a slave. You’re worse off than that by a long, long way. You’re a predatory beast shut up in a cage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/true-you-re-not-a-slave-you-re-worse-off-than-that-by-a-long-long-way/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [“There's an ingrained distrust in our society of highly intelligent, highly trained, highly competent persons. One need only look at the last presidential election…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/there-s-an-ingrained-distrust-in-our-society-of-highly-intelligent/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [“It's natural for a man to defend what's dear to him: his own life, his home, his family. But in order to make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/it-s-natural-for-a-man-to-defend-what-s-dear-to-him-his-own-life-his/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [“Time entails memory, memory entails conscience, conscience entails thought for the future, which is itself implied by the existence of time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/time-entails-memory-memory-entails-conscience-conscience-entails/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [“It's not because my mind is made up that I don't want you to confuse me with any more facts. It's because my mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/it-s-not-because-my-mind-is-made-up-that-i-don-t-want-you-to-confuse/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [There are two kinds of fools. One says, "This is old, and therefore good." And one says, " This is new, and therefore better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/there-are-two-kinds-of-fools-one-says-this-is-old-and-therefore-good/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [“The walls were chipped and needed paint. The windows were mostly okay but one pane was blocked with cardboard. There were fleas the exterminator…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/the-walls-were-chipped-and-needed-paint-the-windows-were-mostly-okay/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [“Right! Right! 'Stead of which, over here, they shit in the water until it's dangerous to drink, then make a fucking fortune out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/right-right-stead-of-which-over-here-they-shit-in-the-water-until-it/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [NEGRO :; Member of a subgroup of the human race who hails, or whose ancestors hailed, from a chunk of land nicknamed not by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/negro-member-of-a-subgroup-of-the-human-race-who-hails-or-whose/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [“She recalled him as a forceful and witty speaker with a ready repartee and a penetrating voice. He had once, for example, put down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/she-recalled-him-as-a-forceful-and-witty-speaker-with-a-ready/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [It's supposed to be automatic, but actually you have to push this button.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/it-s-supposed-to-be-automatic-but-actually-you-have-to-push-this/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) [Explore all 66 John Brunner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) ## More Chief executive quotes > [Eventually, I'd like to have some sort of role like a chief executive in a football club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green/eventually-i-d-like-to-have-some-sort-of-role-like-a-chief-executive/) [Robert Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green/) > [The principles that make someone a master in the chief executive role deal with whether or not they can thrive in an environment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/the-principles-that-make-someone-a-master-in-the-chief-executive-role/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) > [Ethics must begin at the top of an organization. It is a leadership issue and the chief executive must set the example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-f-hennessey/ethics-must-begin-at-the-top-of-an-organization-it-is-a-leadership/) [Edward F. Hennessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-f-hennessey/) > [At the heart of any good business is a chief executive officer with one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/at-the-heart-of-any-good-business-is-a-chief-executive-officer-with/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [The governor is Virginia's chief executive and represents the commonwealth at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/the-governor-is-virginia-s-chief-executive-and-represents-the/) [Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/) > [And obviously, with hindsight now, now knowing what went on in the company, it would have been absolutely appropriate back then for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-a-watson/and-obviously-with-hindsight-now-now-knowing-what-went-on-in-the/) [Tom A. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-a-watson/) > [If the chief executive cannot have a party background, how can she ensure her team is wholeheartedly united?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/if-the-chief-executive-cannot-have-a-party-background-how-can-she/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [The salary of the chief executive of a large corporation is not a market award for achievement. It is frequently in the nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-salary-of-the-chief-executive-of-a-large-corporation-is-not-a/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Mr. Trump is a chief executive in the private setting of a very complex business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-collins/mr-trump-is-a-chief-executive-in-the-private-setting-of-a-very/) [Chris Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-collins/) > [I think Gary Johnson would be capable of being a good chief executive and yes a commander in chief - Aleppo to the contrary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/i-think-gary-johnson-would-be-capable-of-being-a-good-chief-executive/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [Whatever the political affiliation of our next President, whatever his views may be on all the issues and problems that rush in upon us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/whatever-the-political-affiliation-of-our-next-president-whatever-his/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [When a company seeks a new chief executive officer, or a university a new vice-chancellor, enormous trouble is taken to find the best person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/when-a-company-seeks-a-new-chief-executive-officer-or-a-university-a/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The chief executive who knows his strengths and weaknesses as a leader is likely to be far more effective than the one who remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adair/the-chief-executive-who-knows-his-strengths-and-weaknesses-as-a/) [John Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adair/) > [Show me a chief executive who’s on five boards and who lends his or her name, prestige and time to 15 community activities —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-dunlap/show-me-a-chief-executive-who-s-on-five-boards-and-who-lends-his-or/) [Albert J. Dunlap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-dunlap/) > [I was the chief executive once, I've been there. My recommendation to anybody is don't go backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rose/i-was-the-chief-executive-once-i-ve-been-there-my-recommendation-to/) [Stuart Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rose/) [Browse all 41 Chief executive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief-executive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“only delusible idiots like our current chief executive can be persuaded to don the robes of high office. 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