--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For more than three months, I had been…" description: "\"For more than three months, I had been president and primary owner of Spellman Investigations, and I can say with complete certainty that I had more po..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/lisa-lutz-7434_captain_for-more-than-three-months-i-had-been-pr_1766508.png" --- # For more than three months, I had been president and… ![“For more than three months, I had been president and primary owner of Spellman Investigations, and I can say with complete certainty that I had more power in this office as an underling. My title, it seemed, was purely decorative. I was captain of an unfashionable and sinking ship.” quote by Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/lisa-lutz-7434_captain_for-more-than-three-months-i-had-been-pr_1766508.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/lisa-lutz-7434_captain_for-more-than-three-months-i-had-been-pr_1766508.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/lisa-lutz-7434_captain_for-more-than-three-months-i-had-been-pr_1766508.png) > “For more than three months, I had been president and primary owner of Spellman Investigations, and I can say with complete certainty that I had more power in this office as an underling. My title, it seemed, was purely decorative. I was captain of an unfashionable and sinking ship.” [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A claim that real influence comes from action, not titles, likening a role to a sinking ship. **In simple terms:** Influence stems from deeds, not position. Key Takeaway Lead through action, not title. Themes leadership authority humility illusion reality Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business - creative writing - team management Key Concepts organizational dynamics power structures personal identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you demonstrate leadership without formal authority? - When have you felt “decorative” in a role? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex power dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Ship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ship/) [Sinking Ship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinking-ship/) ## Related quotes > [“We all have the same holes in our hearts Everything falls apart at the exact same time It all comes together perfectly for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/listener/we-all-have-the-same-holes-in-our-hearts-everything-falls-apart-at/) Listener > [I think I'm gonna attach myself to the sinking ship that is book publishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-clowes/i-think-i-m-gonna-attach-myself-to-the-sinking-ship-that-is-book/) [Daniel Clowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-clowes/) > [“The nautical expression that “Rats leave a sinking ship” is an observed truth. Not only will they attempt to save themselves but they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/the-nautical-expression-that-rats-leave-a-sinking-ship-is-an-observed/) Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One > [“Compounding the horror, German officials committed an act of staggering insensitivity: they struck a commemorative medal with a depiction of the sinking ship on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-persico/compounding-the-horror-german-officials-committed-an-act-of/) [Joseph E. Persico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-persico/) > [I'd much love being a woman. Coz women can cry, they can wear cute clothes, and they are the first to be rescued off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/i-d-much-love-being-a-woman-coz-women-can-cry-they-can-wear-cute/) [Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/) > [I'd much rather be a woman than a man. Women can cry, they can wear cute clothes, and they're the first to be rescued…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/i-d-much-rather-be-a-woman-than-a-man-women-can-cry-they-can-wear/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) > [“Unless it is relevant and accurate, knowledge can be the sinking ship the fool insists is sea-worthy, because knowledge often masquerades as wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/unless-it-is-relevant-and-accurate-knowledge-can-be-the-sinking-ship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The greatest of poems is an inventory. Every kitchen tool becomes ideal because Crusoe might have dropped it in the sea. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-greatest-of-poems-is-an-inventory-every-kitchen-tool-becomes/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“We're all the same. We all want the same thing in life. Everybody going around like they know how to sail but there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donal-o-callaghan/we-re-all-the-same-we-all-want-the-same-thing-in-life-everybody-going/) [Donal O'Callaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donal-o-callaghan/) > [You don't integrate with a sinking ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-don-t-integrate-with-a-sinking-ship/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Often undecided whether to desert a sinking ship for one that might not float, he would make up his mind to sit on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/often-undecided-whether-to-desert-a-sinking-ship-for-one-that-might/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I suppose there hasn’t been a single month since the war, in any trade you care to name, in which there weren’t more men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/i-suppose-there-hasn-t-been-a-single-month-since-the-war-in-any-trade/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Always leave a sinking ship. There's no virtue in hanging on to losers. And stocks don't have feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-dunnan/always-leave-a-sinking-ship-there-s-no-virtue-in-hanging-on-to-losers/) [Nancy Dunnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-dunnan/) > [But all the love in the world won't save a sinking ship. You have to either bail or jump overboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-all-the-love-in-the-world-won-t-save-a-sinking-ship-you-have-to/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More by Lisa Lutz > [The sense of not knowing where I came from let me be as smart as I wanted to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/the-sense-of-not-knowing-where-i-came-from-let-me-be-as-smart-as-i/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [“I have a weakness for tough guys who read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-have-a-weakness-for-tough-guys-who-read/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [“I ordered a beer, opened the newspaper, and realized the light was all wrong for reading. Still, if you're a woman sitting alone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-ordered-a-beer-opened-the-newspaper-and-realized-the-light-was-all/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [I have certain rules for snooping, under which anything out in the open is fair game. But I also think, in light of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-have-certain-rules-for-snooping-under-which-anything-out-in-the/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [Band I listen to most: The Ramones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/band-i-listen-to-most-the-ramones/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [“I was angry, but I was also tired and devastated by the idea that I would have to spend another four hours trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-was-angry-but-i-was-also-tired-and-devastated-by-the-idea-that-i/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [I was on a few surveillance jobs as part of a big team. I would be the person to follow the subject on foot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-was-on-a-few-surveillance-jobs-as-part-of-a-big-team-i-would-be-the/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [“I was thinking what everyone is thinking all of the time: How can I make this last just a little bit longer?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-was-thinking-what-everyone-is-thinking-all-of-the-time-how-can-i/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [I entered his apartment without being invited, which is perfectly fine if you're not a vampire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-entered-his-apartment-without-being-invited-which-is-perfectly-fine/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [I could never really choose a favorite book, but whenever I'm asked what my favorite movie is, I always say 'Withnail & I,' a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-could-never-really-choose-a-favorite-book-but-whenever-i-m-asked/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [I wouldn't say that my family is normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-wouldn-t-say-that-my-family-is-normal/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [Sometimes a single item can wrap up, in a nutshell, who a person is. In my grandparents' home, a clear plastic container was enthroned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/sometimes-a-single-item-can-wrap-up-in-a-nutshell-who-a-person-is-in/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [I knew immediately that this was not going to work out. Hunter is the kind of guy who dates women who wear high heels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-knew-immediately-that-this-was-not-going-to-work-out-hunter-is-the/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [I don't feel like I'm a writer who works under any influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-don-t-feel-like-i-m-a-writer-who-works-under-any-influence/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [What's her name?" "None of your business." "That can't possibly be her name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/what-s-her-name-none-of-your-business-that-can-t-possibly-be-her-name/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) [Explore all 91 Lisa Lutz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) ## More Captain quotes > [“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!” “Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/joe-he-groaned-attempting-to-speak-clearly-joe-good-ol-joe-captain/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [I think anyone who wants to go up against Captain Marvel ought to be worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/i-think-anyone-who-wants-to-go-up-against-captain-marvel-ought-to-be/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [Jon Moxley - great performer. I'm sure he's a nice guy. But at the end of the day, I think people are sick and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-jacob-friedman/jon-moxley-great-performer-i-m-sure-he-s-a-nice-guy-but-at-the-end-of/) [Maxwell Jacob Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-jacob-friedman/) > [I've definitely grown into the job after that difficult first Test against Pakistan. I'd been captain for the Sri Lanka one-dayers, which hadn't gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-ve-definitely-grown-into-the-job-after-that-difficult-first-test/) [Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/) > [“ The captain? Sophia stood staring numbly after him. Had he just said he’d introduce her to the captain? Of someone else was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-captain-sophia-stood-staring-numbly-after-him-had-he-just-said-he/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [My father was in the military; he was a captain. His service was to quote-unquote integrate the Armed Forces overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/my-father-was-in-the-military-he-was-a-captain-his-service-was-to/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I think there will be one overarching coach for Tests and one-day cricket. I think you need one person in control and in charge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-think-there-will-be-one-overarching-coach-for-tests-and-one-day/) [Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/) > [Obviously as players we want to play every game. But when you do miss out, I strongly believe the job is to not sulk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moeen-ali/obviously-as-players-we-want-to-play-every-game-but-when-you-do-miss/) [Moeen Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moeen-ali/) > [Jay Jay Okocha. On and off the field he was the captain you looked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/jay-jay-okocha-on-and-off-the-field-he-was-the-captain-you-looked-for/) [Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/) > [It’s up to the captain. I certainly feel my golf is worthy of playing in the Ryder Cup. But I’m not sure I’m on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-langer/it-s-up-to-the-captain-i-certainly-feel-my-golf-is-worthy-of-playing/) [Bernhard Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-langer/) > [“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul and all that jazz.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/i-am-the-master-of-my-fate-i-am-the-captain-of-my-soul-and-all-that/) [Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/) > [I will be captain for my teammates and be captain of Manchester United is an important achievement for me but I think everyone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-will-be-captain-for-my-teammates-and-be-captain-of-manchester/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [You are here because you some Justin Beaver, Miley Cirus lookin' muthas. -Captain Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/21-jump-street/you-are-here-because-you-some-justin-beaver-miley-cirus-lookin-muthas/) 21 Jump Street > [Captain America is an interesting character because it makes you ask those questions in yourself as a writer. What do we want as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/captain-america-is-an-interesting-character-because-it-makes-you-ask/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [Captain looks at Janie closely. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," she says. "You're gonna have a heck of a shiner by the time the day's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mcmann/captain-looks-at-janie-closely-jesus-mary-and-joseph-she-says-you-re/) [Lisa McMann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mcmann/) Browse all 873 Captain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For more than three months, I had been president and primary owner of Spellman Investigations, and I can say with complete certainty that I had more power in this office as an underling. My title, it seemed, was purely decorative. 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