--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just pass the work I assign along to…" description: "\"“Just pass the work I assign along to somebody else and trust to luck. We call that delegation of responsibility.”\" — Joseph Heller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/joseph-heller-601_delegation_just-pass-the-work-i-assign-along-to-som_2703073.png" --- # Just pass the work I assign along to somebody else and… ![“Just pass the work I assign along to somebody else and trust to luck. We call that delegation of responsibility.” quote by Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/joseph-heller-601_delegation_just-pass-the-work-i-assign-along-to-som_2703073.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/joseph-heller-601_delegation_just-pass-the-work-i-assign-along-to-som_2703073.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/joseph-heller-601_delegation_just-pass-the-work-i-assign-along-to-som_2703073.png) > ““Just pass the work I assign along to somebody else and trust to luck. We call that delegation of responsibility.”” [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Satirically defines delegation as passing tasks and relying on luck, critiquing responsibility avoidance. **In simple terms:** Delegation can be excuse. Key Takeaway Beware of passing blame. Themes responsibility delegation luck satire Mood wry critical Type literary humorous When to use this quote - workplace - project management - team leadership Key Concepts organizational behavior ethics Questions to Reflect On - When is delegation effective? - How to ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Delegation without accountability fails. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delegation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delegation/) [Delegation Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delegation-responsibility-2748347/) [Luck Delegation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck-delegation-2748346/) [Pass Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pass-work-471750/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Assign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-assign-2748348/) ## Related quotes > [Effective collaboration is about maximizing time, talent and tools to create value. The old way was the pass-along approach. I do my job and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-rosen/effective-collaboration-is-about-maximizing-time-talent-and-tools-to/) [Evan Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-rosen/) > [What I try to pass on in my work for everyone is that we can be who we want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anitta/what-i-try-to-pass-on-in-my-work-for-everyone-is-that-we-can-be-who/) [Anitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anitta/) > [Delegation requires the willingness to pay for short term failures in order to gain long term competency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/delegation-requires-the-willingness-to-pay-for-short-term-failures-in/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [To handle the economy and services in a country like Iraq requires delegation of authority and the choice of competent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-chalabi/to-handle-the-economy-and-services-in-a-country-like-iraq-requires/) [Ahmed Chalabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-chalabi/) > [When I was elected, I was the youngest member of the Tennessee congressional delegation; now, I'm one of the oldest. In fact, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-gordon/when-i-was-elected-i-was-the-youngest-member-of-the-tennessee/) [Bart Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-gordon/) > [GOVERNMENT has no rights; it is a delegation from several individuals for the purpose of securing their own. It is therefore just, only so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/government-has-no-rights-it-is-a-delegation-from-several-individuals/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [ The Constitution expressly and exclusively vests in the Legislature the power of declaring a state of war \[and\] the power of raising armies… A… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-constitution-expressly-and-exclusively-vests-in-the-legislature/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [When I put out to sea, I do not offer advice to the skipper about the management of the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-barker/when-i-put-out-to-sea-i-do-not-offer-advice-to-the-skipper-about-the/) [Elsa Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-barker/) > [As much as you need a strong personality to build a business from scratch, you also must understand the art of delegation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-much-as-you-need-a-strong-personality-to-build-a-business-from/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Virtually every company will be going out and empowering their workers with a certain set of tools, and the big difference in how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/virtually-every-company-will-be-going-out-and-empowering-their/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Yesterday I, along with a bipartisan Congressional Delegation of lawmakers, inspected the detention facilities at Guantanamo used to house individuals detained in the War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ryun/yesterday-i-along-with-a-bipartisan-congressional-delegation-of/) [Jim Ryun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ryun/) > [I must say, with regard to Equatorial Guinea, the Government of Equatorial Guinea, as soon as they had arrested these people, sent a delegation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/i-must-say-with-regard-to-equatorial-guinea-the-government-of/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [ The most interesting - in fact, inspiring - people I met there \[Porto Alegre\] are those who remain nameless: representatives of the international campesino… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-most-interesting-in-fact-inspiring-people-i-met-there-porto/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [One of my goals here in Congress, being the youngest member of the California delegation, is to really try and get the institution to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/one-of-my-goals-here-in-congress-being-the-youngest-member-of-the/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [I have received delegations of working men who, apparently speaking with the utmost sincerity, have declared that they would regard it as a genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-have-received-delegations-of-working-men-who-apparently-speaking/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## More by Joseph Heller > [“Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. "That's some catch, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-very-deeply-by-the-absolute-simplicity-of-this/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [From men motivated by moral certitude, history teaches, no lasting good ever comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/from-men-motivated-by-moral-certitude-history-teaches-no-lasting-good/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [I’m cold,' Snowden said softly, 'I’m cold.' 'You’re going to be all right, kid,' Yossarian reassured him with a grin. 'You’re going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-m-cold-snowden-said-softly-i-m-cold-you-re-going-to-be-all-right/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/the-enemy-is-anybody-who-s-going-to-get-you-killed-no-matter-which/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“They think that they’re smart and that the rest of us are dumb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/they-think-that-they-re-smart-and-that-the-rest-of-us-are-dumb/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/there-was-only-one-catch-and-that-was-catch-22-which-specified-that-a/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Captain Flume was obsessed with the idea that Chief White Halfoat would tiptoe up to his cot one night when he was sound asleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/captain-flume-was-obsessed-with-the-idea-that-chief-white-halfoat/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Depreciating motels, junked automobiles, and quick-food joints grow like amber waves of grain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/depreciating-motels-junked-automobiles-and-quick-food-joints-grow/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“That was where he wanted to be if he had to be there at all, instead of hung out there in front like some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/that-was-where-he-wanted-to-be-if-he-had-to-be-there-at-all-instead/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [I had examined myself pretty thoroughly and discovered that I was unfit for military service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-had-examined-myself-pretty-thoroughly-and-discovered-that-i-was/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Yossarian was moved by such intense pity for his poverty that he wanted to smash his pale. sad, sickly face with his fist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-by-such-intense-pity-for-his-poverty-that-he/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [You have deep-seated survival anxieties. And you don't like bigots, bullies, snobs or hypocrites. Subconsciously there are many people you hate." "Consciously, sir, consciously,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/you-have-deep-seated-survival-anxieties-and-you-don-t-like-bigots/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“His specialty was alfalfa, and he made a good thing out of not growing any. The government paid him well for every bushel of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/his-specialty-was-alfalfa-and-he-made-a-good-thing-out-of-not-growing/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Every writer I know has trouble writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/every-writer-i-know-has-trouble-writing/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“No such private nights of ecstasy or hushed-up drinking and sex orgies ever occurred. They might have occurred if either General Dreedle or General…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/no-such-private-nights-of-ecstasy-or-hushed-up-drinking-and-sex/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) [Explore all 420 Joseph Heller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) ## More Delegation quotes > [I have received delegations of working men who, apparently speaking with the utmost sincerity, have declared that they would regard it as a genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-have-received-delegations-of-working-men-who-apparently-speaking/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [One of my goals here in Congress, being the youngest member of the California delegation, is to really try and get the institution to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/one-of-my-goals-here-in-congress-being-the-youngest-member-of-the/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [ The most interesting - in fact, inspiring - people I met there \[Porto Alegre\] are those who remain nameless: representatives of the international campesino… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-most-interesting-in-fact-inspiring-people-i-met-there-porto/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I must say, with regard to Equatorial Guinea, the Government of Equatorial Guinea, as soon as they had arrested these people, sent a delegation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/i-must-say-with-regard-to-equatorial-guinea-the-government-of/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [Yesterday I, along with a bipartisan Congressional Delegation of lawmakers, inspected the detention facilities at Guantanamo used to house individuals detained in the War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ryun/yesterday-i-along-with-a-bipartisan-congressional-delegation-of/) [Jim Ryun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ryun/) > [Virtually every company will be going out and empowering their workers with a certain set of tools, and the big difference in how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/virtually-every-company-will-be-going-out-and-empowering-their/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [As much as you need a strong personality to build a business from scratch, you also must understand the art of delegation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-much-as-you-need-a-strong-personality-to-build-a-business-from/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [When I put out to sea, I do not offer advice to the skipper about the management of the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-barker/when-i-put-out-to-sea-i-do-not-offer-advice-to-the-skipper-about-the/) [Elsa Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-barker/) > [ The Constitution expressly and exclusively vests in the Legislature the power of declaring a state of war \[and\] the power of raising armies… A… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-constitution-expressly-and-exclusively-vests-in-the-legislature/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [GOVERNMENT has no rights; it is a delegation from several individuals for the purpose of securing their own. It is therefore just, only so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/government-has-no-rights-it-is-a-delegation-from-several-individuals/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [When I was elected, I was the youngest member of the Tennessee congressional delegation; now, I'm one of the oldest. In fact, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-gordon/when-i-was-elected-i-was-the-youngest-member-of-the-tennessee/) [Bart Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-gordon/) > [To handle the economy and services in a country like Iraq requires delegation of authority and the choice of competent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-chalabi/to-handle-the-economy-and-services-in-a-country-like-iraq-requires/) [Ahmed Chalabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-chalabi/) > [Delegation requires the willingness to pay for short term failures in order to gain long term competency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/delegation-requires-the-willingness-to-pay-for-short-term-failures-in/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [DELEGATION, n. In American politics, an article of merchandise that comes in sets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/delegation-n-in-american-politics-an-article-of-merchandise-that/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [People and organizations don't grow much without delegation and completed staff work because they are confined to the capacities of the boss and reflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/people-and-organizations-don-t-grow-much-without-delegation-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Browse all 67 Delegation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delegation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Just pass the work I assign along to somebody else and trust to luck. 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