--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you have to make a choice between…" description: "\"When you have to make a choice between capacity and capability, I would go with capability.\" — Joseph Dunford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/joseph-dunford-24804_between_when-you-have-to-make-a-choice-between-c_319509.jpg" --- # When you have to make a choice between capacity and… ![“When you have to make a choice between capacity and capability, I would go with capability.” quote by Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/joseph-dunford-24804_between_when-you-have-to-make-a-choice-between-c_319509.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/joseph-dunford-24804_between_when-you-have-to-make-a-choice-between-c_319509.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/joseph-dunford-24804_between_when-you-have-to-make-a-choice-between-c_319509.jpg) > “When you have to make a choice between capacity and capability, I would go with capability.” [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing capability over capacity ensures you prioritize quality and potential rather than just size or resources. **In simple terms:** Pick capability instead of capacity for better outcomes. Key Takeaway Prioritize ability and potential over mere size. Themes leadership decision-making resource management efficiency strategy Mood analytical pragmatic strategic Type business motivational When to use this quote - project planning - team building - budget allocation - technology adoption - skill development Key Concepts systems thinking risk assessment human capital Questions to Reflect On - When should you prioritize capacity over capability? - How do you assess true capability? A Different Perspective Capability may be limited by resources; capacity can enable scaling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Capability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/) [Capability Capability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability-capability-3014125/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Capacity Capability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity-capability-3014123/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-capacity-3014124/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) ## Related quotes > [If we're going to grow capacity, you need to do it in a way where it is meaningful capability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/if-we-re-going-to-grow-capacity-you-need-to-do-it-in-a-way-where-it/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [Everything great that has ever happened to humanity has begun as a single thought in someone's mind, and if anyone of us is capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/everything-great-that-has-ever-happened-to-humanity-has-begun-as-a/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [With support from institutions like the United Nations as well as the donor community, governments can strengthen their national technological and scientific capacities by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-abu-ghazaleh/with-support-from-institutions-like-the-united-nations-as-well-as-the/) [Talal Abu-Ghazaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-abu-ghazaleh/) > [“Capability stands you out; capacity scales you up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/capability-stands-you-out-capacity-scales-you-up/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) > [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [I'm just confident in myself and my capability to be able to play this position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-bridgewater/i-m-just-confident-in-myself-and-my-capability-to-be-able-to-play/) [Teddy Bridgewater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-bridgewater/) > [We've learned that we've allowed technological capabilities to dictate policies and practices, rather than ensuring that our laws and values guide our technological capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-ve-learned-that-we-ve-allowed-technological-capabilities-to/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Clearly, if wed had the kind of computer graphics capability then that we have now, the Star Gate sequence would be much more complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-trumbull/clearly-if-wed-had-the-kind-of-computer-graphics-capability-then-that/) [Douglas Trumbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-trumbull/) > [If you are facing a new challenge or being asked to do something that you have never done before don’t be afraid to step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/if-you-are-facing-a-new-challenge-or-being-asked-to-do-something-that/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [You have the capability to change your life all with a simple shift in perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-have-the-capability-to-change-your-life-all-with-a-simple-shift/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [One of the capabilities, which seems to be the most difficult for aspiring leaders to maste is realistic optimism. 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If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) ## More by Joseph Dunford > [I'm an implementer of policy, not a maker of policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/i-m-an-implementer-of-policy-not-a-maker-of-policy/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [There's no substitute for taking a clear-eyed look at the threats we'll face and asking how our force will adapt to meet those threats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/there-s-no-substitute-for-taking-a-clear-eyed-look-at-the-threats-we/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [In my judgment, us assisting the Chinese military in advancing technologically is not in U.S. national interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/in-my-judgment-us-assisting-the-chinese-military-in-advancing/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [The work that Google is doing in China is indirectly benefiting the Chinese military. 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