Bureaucrats Quote by John Maynard Keynes
““Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. ... in the field of economic and political philosophy there are not many who are influenced by new theories after they are twenty-five or thirty years of age, so that the ideas which civil servants and politicians and even agitators apply to current events are not likely to be the newest.””
About This Quote
Intellectual complacency leads to reliance on outdated ideas, limiting progress.
In simple terms: Old ideas restrict growth.
Key Takeaway
Embrace new theories regardless of age.
Themes
stagnation
intellectual humility
policy
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government reform
- academic research
- business strategy
- public debate
Key Concepts
economics
political philosophy
innovation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions encourage continual learning?
- What mechanisms prevent outdated thinking?
A Different Perspective
Experience can still offer valuable insight.
