Alternatives Quote by Peter Costello
“You know in politics you are dealing in the realm of choices. You don't always have clear-cut decision between a thoroughly principled position and a thoroughly unprincipled one. You're making snap decisions with paucity of information, generally trying to do the best that you can, but you will make errors, and sometimes it's a decision between a bad and a worse alternative. It has to be done, because we need to order our society, and of politics it can literally be said: Bad job, but someone's got to do it.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Political commentary interview, 2015
Politics forces leaders to make imperfect choices with limited information, often between undesirable options, yet action is necessary for societal order.
In simple terms: Political decisions are often imperfect but required.
Key Takeaway
Accept imperfect choices and focus on best possible outcomes.
Themes
politics
decision-making
ethics
leadership
societal order
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy formulation
- crisis management
- legislative voting
- public communication
- strategic planning
Key Concepts
trade‑offs
information scarcity
moral ambiguity
Questions to Reflect On
- What strategies improve decision quality under uncertainty?
- How can leaders balance ethical standards with practical constraints?
A Different Perspective
Ideal decisions are rarely possible; compromises may cause regret.
![“[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative.” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/324/margaret-thatcher-463_alternatives_when-asked-how-it-felt-to-be-a-female-pr_15081.jpg)
