Accepting Quote by Phil Crosby
“People are conditioned to believe that error is inevitable… However, we do not accept the same standard when it comes to our personal life. If we did, we would resign ourselves to being shortchanged now and then when we cash our paychecks. We would expect hospital nurses to drop a certain percentage of all newborn babies. We would expect to go home to the wrong house periodically. As individuals we do not tolerate these things. Thus we have a double standard, one for ourselves, one for the company.”
About This Quote
Source Business book: "Quality is Free", 1979
We accept errors in systems but demand perfection from ourselves, creating a double standard that harms personal expectations.
In simple terms: We tolerate mistakes in institutions but not in our own lives.
Key Takeaway
Challenge the double standard, demand fairness.
Themes
fairness
personal standards
double standard
quality control
Mood
critical
analytical
motivational
Type
advice
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- workplace policies
- personal finance
- healthcare expectations
- customer service
Key Concepts
ethical consistency
self‑compassion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you apply the same tolerance for error to yourself?
- What systems can you redesign to be fair to both parties?
A Different Perspective
Societal norms often reinforce the double standard, making change hard.
