Adequate Quote by Stuart Symington
“I had learned many years ago in private business never to take responsibility without adequate authority; and the new Secretary of Defense, as budgets were sharply cut, quickly found that out.”
About This Quote
Source Memoir: “The Making of a President” by Stuart Symington, 1965
Responsibility should match authority; lacking power, one cannot effectively fulfill duties, as seen in defense budget cuts.
In simple terms: Authority must accompany responsibility for effective action.
Key Takeaway
Align authority with assigned duties.
Themes
leadership
responsibility
authority
bureaucracy
management
Mood
pragmatic
reflective
Type
advisory
instructionational
When to use this quote
- government agencies
- corporate management
- project teams
- policy implementation
- budget planning
Key Concepts
delegation
organizational hierarchy
accountability
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders secure necessary authority?
- What mechanisms protect against authority‑responsibility mismatch?
A Different Perspective
Authority may be limited by systemic constraints.
