--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A committee is twelve men doing the work…" description: "\"A committee is twelve men doing the work of one.\" — John F. Kennedy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/john-f-kennedy-246_committee_a-committee-is-twelve-men-doing-the-work_3088161.jpg" --- # A committee is twelve men doing the work of one. ![“A committee is twelve men doing the work of one.” quote by John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/john-f-kennedy-246_committee_a-committee-is-twelve-men-doing-the-work_3088161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/john-f-kennedy-246_committee_a-committee-is-twelve-men-doing-the-work_3088161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5e/john-f-kennedy-246_committee_a-committee-is-twelve-men-doing-the-work_3088161.jpg) > “A committee is twelve men doing the work of one.” [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A committee of twelve people accomplishes as much as a single individual would. **In simple terms:** Too many people dilute effort. Key Takeaway Streamline teams for effectiveness. Themes bureaucracy team dynamics efficiency leadership organization Mood critical reflective Type advisory organizational When to use this quote - corporate board - government task force - project teams - nonprofit committees Key Concepts management theory groupthink resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - When is a larger group actually beneficial? - How to balance representation and speed? A Different Perspective Risk of over‑centralizing authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Committee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committee/) [Committee Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committee-men-2956230/) [Committees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committees/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing The Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-work/) [Doing Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-work/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-doing-659879/) [Twelve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twelve/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I was not a political animal; I could not toady up to the committee men, pour drinks down their necks at the bar, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-boycott/i-was-not-a-political-animal-i-could-not-toady-up-to-the-committee/) [Geoffrey Boycott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-boycott/) > [As soon as you put men together, they somehow sink, corporatively, below the level of the worst of the individuals composing it. Collect scholars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/as-soon-as-you-put-men-together-they-somehow-sink-corporatively-below/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [Hustle is simple - it's doing the work. A lot of people like to talk about it, a lot of people have ideas, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-carter/hustle-is-simple-it-s-doing-the-work-a-lot-of-people-like-to-talk/) [Troy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-carter/) > [“The challenge is to focus on the work, not on the fear that comes from doing the work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-challenge-is-to-focus-on-the-work-not-on-the-fear-that-comes-from/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [One person with the ability of half a person doing the work of four people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/one-person-with-the-ability-of-half-a-person-doing-the-work-of-four/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [For now, I'm just going to keep doing the work and hope I don't get fired. If people want to put me up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/for-now-i-m-just-going-to-keep-doing-the-work-and-hope-i-don-t-get/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [Whenever I get an audition to do something that is sci-fi-related, it makes me really happy because I realize that I can continue doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-august-richards/whenever-i-get-an-audition-to-do-something-that-is-sci-fi-related-it/) [J. August Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-august-richards/) > [It doesn't really matter where the opportunity comes from, as long as I have fun doing the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-conchita-alonso/it-doesn-t-really-matter-where-the-opportunity-comes-from-as-long-as/) [Maria Conchita Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-conchita-alonso/) > [Bravery comes when you commit to doing the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brogan/bravery-comes-when-you-commit-to-doing-the-work/) [Chris Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brogan/) > [It's not about how much work you're doing. It's about what work you're doing and how you're doing the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-burchard/it-s-not-about-how-much-work-you-re-doing-it-s-about-what-work-you-re/) [Brendon Burchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-burchard/) > [“You have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have, and you have to start doing the work you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/you-have-to-dress-for-the-job-you-want-not-the-job-you-have-and-you/) [Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/) > [Where I am right now I'm pretty good at. You know, I understand that there's a problem. I'm addressing it. I'm doing the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-baldwin/where-i-am-right-now-i-m-pretty-good-at-you-know-i-understand-that/) [Daniel Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-baldwin/) > [The people who are doing the work are the moving force behind the Macintosh. My job is to create a space for them, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-people-who-are-doing-the-work-are-the-moving-force-behind-the/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [What really matters is the work. And what matters to me is doing the work. I'm not looking at the back end: "What am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/what-really-matters-is-the-work-and-what-matters-to-me-is-doing-the/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [You can achieve much in life if you don't mind doing the work and giving someone else the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/you-can-achieve-much-in-life-if-you-don-t-mind-doing-the-work-and/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) ## More by John F. Kennedy > [“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-shall-pay-any-price-bear-any-burden-meet-any-hardship-support-any/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We stand today on the edge of a new frontier - the frontier of the 1960's - a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-stand-today-on-the-edge-of-a-new-frontier-the-frontier-of-the-1960/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Someone always needs rescuing, yet there's only one person who ever seems to understand you. It's a lot like being Lassie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/someone-always-needs-rescuing-yet-there-s-only-one-person-who-ever/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Student loans have been helpful to many. But they offer neither incentive nor assistance to those students who, by reason of family or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/student-loans-have-been-helpful-to-many-but-they-offer-neither/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Great crises produce great men, and great deeds of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/great-crises-produce-great-men-and-great-deeds-of-courage/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [There comes a point where you see no evidence that the carrot and diplomacy are working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-comes-a-point-where-you-see-no-evidence-that-the-carrot-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Suspicion on one side breeds suspicion on the other, and new weapons beget counter-weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/suspicion-on-one-side-breeds-suspicion-on-the-other-and-new-weapons/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Disarmament without checks is but a shadow - and a community without law is but a shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/disarmament-without-checks-is-but-a-shadow-and-a-community-without/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [This is one country. It has become one country because all of us and all the people who came here had an equal chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/this-is-one-country-it-has-become-one-country-because-all-of-us-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-courage-of-life-is-often-a-less-dramatic-spectacle-than-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/peace-does-not-rest-in-the-charters-and-covenants-alone-it-lies-in/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Explore all 824 John F. Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## More Committee quotes > [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [What is interesting in Washington, D.C., is I've never missed a vote. The veterans' committee keeps track of hearings, and I've never missed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/what-is-interesting-in-washington-d-c-is-i-ve-never-missed-a-vote-the/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [It is necessary to get a lot of men together, for the show of the thing, otherwise the world will not believe. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/it-is-necessary-to-get-a-lot-of-men-together-for-the-show-of-the/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Government likes committees... a lot. Committees kill all the really good ideas and generally all the really bad ideas. They produce middle-ground mush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/government-likes-committees-a-lot-committees-kill-all-the-really-good/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/if-the-many-allegations-made-to-this-date-are-true-then-the-burglars/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [One of the great joys this year and the year before has been how all of the people in this body, men and women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hayes/one-of-the-great-joys-this-year-and-the-year-before-has-been-how-all/) [Robin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hayes/) > [I was sent there by the Free Congress Committee, headed by Paul Weyrich. Fred Smith and I were sent down as observers, with reporters'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-lee-ray/i-was-sent-there-by-the-free-congress-committee-headed-by-paul/) [Dixie Lee Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-lee-ray/) > [Some people advocate public nomination and a three-track system - allowing voters and political parties to make nominations along with the committee. These people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/some-people-advocate-public-nomination-and-a-three-track-system/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [As you know in this committee, we have all of HUD, and HUD is responsible for so many programs that determine the quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/as-you-know-in-this-committee-we-have-all-of-hud-and-hud-is/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [I believe in a running back by committee. Always have. Always been taught that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dorsey/i-believe-in-a-running-back-by-committee-always-have-always-been/) [John Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dorsey/) > [As chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee - the chief tax-writing body in Congress - I understand that true comprehensive tax reform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brady/as-chairman-of-the-house-ways-and-means-committee-the-chief-tax/) [Kevin Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brady/) > [Committees are to get everybody together and homogenize their thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-linkletter/committees-are-to-get-everybody-together-and-homogenize-their-thinking/) [Art Linkletter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-linkletter/) > [I'm chairing a UNESCO committee on how to improve global Internet communications for science; help third-world people get onto the Net so they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-lederberg/i-m-chairing-a-unesco-committee-on-how-to-improve-global-internet/) [Joshua Lederberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-lederberg/) > [Committees are consumers and sometimes sterilizers of ideas, rarely creators of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/committees-are-consumers-and-sometimes-sterilizers-of-ideas-rarely/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Browse all 337 Committee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committee/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A committee is twelve men doing the work of one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John F. 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