--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never hire someone who knows less than…" description: "\"Never hire someone who knows less than you do about what he's hired to do.\" — Malcolm Forbes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/malcolm-forbes-1510_hire_never-hire-someone-who-knows-less-than-y_2815012.jpg" --- # Never hire someone who knows less than you do about what… ![“Never hire someone who knows less than you do about what he's hired to do.” quote by Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/malcolm-forbes-1510_hire_never-hire-someone-who-knows-less-than-y_2815012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/malcolm-forbes-1510_hire_never-hire-someone-who-knows-less-than-y_2815012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/malcolm-forbes-1510_hire_never-hire-someone-who-knows-less-than-y_2815012.jpg) > “Never hire someone who knows less than you do about what he's hired to do.” [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hiring should prioritize expertise; avoid employing someone less knowledgeable than yourself for the role. **In simple terms:** Hire people who know more than you about the job. Key Takeaway Prioritize expertise when hiring. Themes leadership hiring expertise management competence career Mood pragmatic analytical professional Type business advice strategic When to use this quote - job interviews - team building - project assignments - consulting engagements - startup hiring Key Concepts human resources organizational behavior strategy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance expertise with fresh ideas? - When is it valuable to hire someone less experienced? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on expertise may overlook diversity of perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hire/) [Hire Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hire-knows-3547843/) [Hired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hired/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Knows Hired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-hired-685407/) ## Related quotes > [The person who gets hired is not necessarily the one who can do that job best; but, the one who knows the most about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/the-person-who-gets-hired-is-not-necessarily-the-one-who-can-do-that/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [I've never really hired anybody that people thought I should hire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/i-ve-never-really-hired-anybody-that-people-thought-i-should-hire/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) > [“Resources are hired to give results, not reasons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/resources-are-hired-to-give-results-not-reasons/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“With warm pleasantries, strangers become clients. With firm handshakes, contracts become signed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/with-warm-pleasantries-strangers-become-clients-with-firm-handshakes/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [Hire the best people, and trust what you hired them to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/hire-the-best-people-and-trust-what-you-hired-them-to-do/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [Since my parents both worked, they hired me when I was 11 to make dinner every night. I got a quarter a day. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teri-hatcher/since-my-parents-both-worked-they-hired-me-when-i-was-11-to-make/) [Teri Hatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teri-hatcher/) > [I also did an Ozzy piece for him, and so I got hired. Everything happened really fast. I can't give people advice, because everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/i-also-did-an-ozzy-piece-for-him-and-so-i-got-hired-everything/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [“We were anxious to begin our life as people who had no people. And it was easy to find an apartment because we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/we-were-anxious-to-begin-our-life-as-people-who-had-no-people-and-it/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [The last reason I want to be hired is because of my gender. I want to be hired because you trust me, because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-hammon/the-last-reason-i-want-to-be-hired-is-because-of-my-gender-i-want-to/) [Becky Hammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-hammon/) > [You don't buy experience at the pharmacy. You acquire it through games over time. Every player must go through that, but when the federation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agustin-castillo/you-don-t-buy-experience-at-the-pharmacy-you-acquire-it-through-games/) [Agustin Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agustin-castillo/) > [I had been hired and fired so many times and been so very blessed and lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldust/i-had-been-hired-and-fired-so-many-times-and-been-so-very-blessed-and/) [Goldust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldust/) > [I promised myself: Before your 18th birthday, you're going to be at Jean Paul Gaultier. And it worked. I was hired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-ghesquiere/i-promised-myself-before-your-18th-birthday-you-re-going-to-be-at/) [Nicolas Ghesquiere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-ghesquiere/) > [The more shows that are produced, the more writers are hired, producers are hired, actors are hired, directors are hired, it means the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/the-more-shows-that-are-produced-the-more-writers-are-hired-producers/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [“stay in for a while?” Donnie turned to face him. “You not staying out at her place?” “I’ll get my hired”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-hayes/stay-in-for-a-while-donnie-turned-to-face-him-you-not-staying-out-at/) [Christy Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-hayes/) > [“I study dead languages for a living,” I said. “That’s why you hired me. Why should I be up to speed on your line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-study-dead-languages-for-a-living-i-said-that-s-why-you-hired-me/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## More by Malcolm Forbes > [Once in a while there's wisdom in recognizing that the Boss is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/once-in-a-while-there-s-wisdom-in-recognizing-that-the-boss-is/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [ I don't think anybody can be a success who doesn't like what they do. \[But it's\] no job if it has no challenge; there's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/i-don-t-think-anybody-can-be-a-success-who-doesn-t-like-what-they-do/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Real writers-that is, capital W Writers-rarely make much money. Their biggest reward is the occasional reader's response… Commentators-in-print voicing big fat opinions-you might call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/real-writers-that-is-capital-w-writers-rarely-make-much-money-their/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always be worse. And when they are, we find hope in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-things-are-bad-we-take-comfort-in-the-thought-that-they-could/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Some people as a result of adversity are sadder, wiser, kinder, more human. Most of us are better, though, when things go better. Knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/some-people-as-a-result-of-adversity-are-sadder-wiser-kinder-more/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [The best vision is insight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/the-best-vision-is-insight/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [When you don't understand, it's sometimes easier to look like you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-you-don-t-understand-it-s-sometimes-easier-to-look-like-you-do/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much about the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-s-so-much-easier-to-suggest-solutions-when-you-don-t-know-too-much/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Security isn't securities. It's knowing that someone cares whether you are or cease to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/security-isn-t-securities-it-s-knowing-that-someone-cares-whether-you/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It is unfortunate we can't buy many business executives for what they are worth and sell them for what they think they are worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-is-unfortunate-we-can-t-buy-many-business-executives-for-what-they/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing Prison or Harvard. We hire a man, not his history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-is-all-one-to-me-if-a-man-comes-from-sing-sing-prison-or-harvard/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Compliment others on the virtues they have; and they're not half as pleased as being complimented for the ones they don't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/compliment-others-on-the-virtues-they-have-and-they-re-not-half-as/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [. . . the most difficult thing asked by our young is not our earnings but our ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/the-most-difficult-thing-asked-by-our-young-is-not-our-earnings-but/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) [Explore all 232 Malcolm Forbes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) ## More Hire quotes > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [I would like to work with whoever would like to have me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-would-like-to-work-with-whoever-would-like-to-have-me/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [Global poverty is the product of reversible policy failures overseen by politicians, past and present. The poorest of the poor don't vote in American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-evans/global-poverty-is-the-product-of-reversible-policy-failures-overseen/) [Hugh Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-evans/) > [I love to work with people and do what I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-starr/i-love-to-work-with-people-and-do-what-i-love/) [Martin Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-starr/) > [I do focus my energy on music, but it's just the way that the industry works. I kind of have to take what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/i-do-focus-my-energy-on-music-but-it-s-just-the-way-that-the-industry/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [In other restaurants you'll see employees signing to each other, since we also hire many deaf men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-karcher/in-other-restaurants-you-ll-see-employees-signing-to-each-other-since/) [Carl Karcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-karcher/) > [When you hire me, you hire a nut who is going to work 24 hours a day for you and never, ever burn his audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stern/when-you-hire-me-you-hire-a-nut-who-is-going-to-work-24-hours-a-day/) [Howard Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stern/) > [If cheap immigrant labor is made unavailable, employers can hire Americans at a higher wage, or replace low-wage immigrant workers with technology and automation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/if-cheap-immigrant-labor-is-made-unavailable-employers-can-hire/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [I would rather hire a man with enthusiasm, than a man who knows everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/i-would-rather-hire-a-man-with-enthusiasm-than-a-man-who-knows/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [They'll totally hire me if I say I got fired from my job on the Hill because of a sex scandal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-cutler/they-ll-totally-hire-me-if-i-say-i-got-fired-from-my-job-on-the-hill/) [Jessica Cutler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-cutler/) > [When a new hire is afraid to roll up their sleeves and get things done, it's a clear sign it's not going to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/when-a-new-hire-is-afraid-to-roll-up-their-sleeves-and-get-things/) [Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/) > [If you need someone to come out of the sewer with a wire you don't hire someone who needs laborious collective instruction. You let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/if-you-need-someone-to-come-out-of-the-sewer-with-a-wire-you-don-t/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [I mean, I've always said I have an amazing team and network of friends and people that I work with that, you know, inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-wang/i-mean-i-ve-always-said-i-have-an-amazing-team-and-network-of-friends/) [Alexander Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-wang/) > [I want the best people, not just on the banking side but on innovation and technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-patricia-botin/i-want-the-best-people-not-just-on-the-banking-side-but-on-innovation/) [Ana Patricia Botin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-patricia-botin/) > [For creative tasks, the best approach is often just to hire great people and get out of their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/for-creative-tasks-the-best-approach-is-often-just-to-hire-great/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) [Browse all 690 Hire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never hire someone who knows less than you do about what he's hired to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Malcolm Forbes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/never-hire-someone-who-knows-less-than-you-do-about-what-he-s-hired/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/never-hire-someone-who-knows-less-than-you-do-about-what-he-s-hired/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/malcolm-forbes-1510_hire_never-hire-someone-who-knows-less-than-y_2815012.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/malcolm-forbes-1510_hire_never-hire-someone-who-knows-less-than-y_2815012.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/malcolm-forbes-1510_hire_never-hire-someone-who-knows-less-than-y_2815012.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never hire someone who knows less than you do about what he's hired to do.” — Malcolm Forbes", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Malcolm Forbes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never hire someone who knows less...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/never-hire-someone-who-knows-less-than-you-do-about-what-he-s-hired/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/never-hire-someone-who-knows-less-than-you-do-about-what-he-s-hired/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```