Business Quote by Leo Rosten
“First-rate people hire first-rate people; second-rate people hire third-rate people.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Gilded Age by Leo Rosten, 1935
Effective leaders select equally capable subordinates, while mediocrity leads to a cascade of lower-quality hires.
In simple terms: Good people hire good people; bad people hire worse.
Key Takeaway
Hire based on merit, not status.
Themes
leadership
hiring
quality
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
professional
advisory
When to use this quote
- company building
- team formation
- career advancement
Key Concepts
meritocracy
organizational behavior
talent management
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess candidate quality?
- What safeguards prevent nepotism?
A Different Perspective
Hiring alone cannot fix systemic issues.
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