Habits Quote by Michael Wolff
““Hence, the new operating principle was simple: do the opposite of what they (Obama, but the Bush neocons, too) would do. Their behavior, their conceits, their ideas - in some sense even their backgrounds, education and class -- were all suspect. And, what's more, you don't really have to know all that much yourself; you just do it differently than it was done before.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff, 2018
The author suggests that to counter a prevailing political agenda, one should intentionally adopt opposite strategies, regardless of detailed understanding of the opponent.
In simple terms: Act opposite to the prevailing approach.
Key Takeaway
Adopt contrasting tactics.
Themes
politics
strategy
opposition
leadership
Mood
skeptical
critical
strategic
Type
analysis
commentary
political
When to use this quote
- campaign planning
- policy reform
- organizational change
- media strategy
Key Concepts
counter‑dominance
strategic inversion
heuristics
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions underlie the opposite approach?
- When does mirroring fail?
A Different Perspective
Opposite tactics may backfire if context is ignored.
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