Humor Quote by P.G. Wodehouse
““More and more, it was beginning to be borne in upon me what a particularly difficult chap Gussie was to help. He seemed to so marked an extent to lack snap and finish. With infinite toil, you manoeuvred him into a position where all he had to do was charge ahead, and he didn't charge ahead, but went off sideways, missing the objective completely.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse, 1923
A capable person can be misdirected and fail to act decisively, leading to missed goals.
In simple terms: Even skilled people can be led astray and not achieve objectives.
Ensure clarity of purpose and direct action.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- project management
- team leadership
- personal productivity
- performance review
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you verify that instructions lead to the intended outcome?
- What safeguards prevent sideways effort?
Over‑reliance on guidance can still result in poor execution.