--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest waste … is failure to use…" description: "\"The greatest waste … is failure to use the abilities of people…to learn about their frustrations and about the contributions that they are eager to mak..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/w-edwards-deming-1337_ability_the-greatest-waste-is-failure-to-use-the_897217.jpg" --- # The greatest waste … is failure to use the abilities of… ![“The greatest waste … is failure to use the abilities of people…to learn about their frustrations and about the contributions that they are eager to make.” quote by W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/w-edwards-deming-1337_ability_the-greatest-waste-is-failure-to-use-the_897217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/w-edwards-deming-1337_ability_the-greatest-waste-is-failure-to-use-the_897217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/w-edwards-deming-1337_ability_the-greatest-waste-is-failure-to-use-the_897217.jpg) > “The greatest waste … is failure to use the abilities of people…to learn about their frustrations and about the contributions that they are eager to make.” [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neglecting people’s talents wastes potential and hampers learning. **In simple terms:** People’s abilities are underused. Key Takeaway Leverage talent. Themes management productivity human capital Mood reflective motivational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team building - performance reviews - skill development - employee engagement Key Concepts systems thinking continuous improvement Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations better tap employee strengths? - What barriers prevent using people’s abilities? A Different Perspective May overlook structural constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Frustration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustration/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) ## Related quotes > [He knew a lot about his grandparents - and perhaps he feels he's been endowed with abilities to go into people's heads who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/he-knew-a-lot-about-his-grandparents-and-perhaps-he-feels-he-s-been/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [I'm basically the idea person. I'm not physically involved in the production. I don't have the necessary abilities, so I go to the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/i-m-basically-the-idea-person-i-m-not-physically-involved-in-the/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [The Rock had the amazing athletic abilities that few people are gifted with, but he also had the burning desire to be the best,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/the-rock-had-the-amazing-athletic-abilities-that-few-people-are/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-days-are-numbered-one-of-the-primary-goals-in-our-lives-should-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-green/the-greatest-waste-in-all-of-our-earth-which-cannot-be-recycled-or/) [David Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-green/) > [Time spent in minding other peoples business is about the greatest waste of time there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/time-spent-in-minding-other-peoples-business-is-about-the-greatest/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“The greatest waste of time is the time that we spend trying to convince ourselves that we’re not wasting it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-greatest-waste-of-time-is-the-time-that-we-spend-trying-to/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [The greatest waste in all the world is living below our potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-b-lee/the-greatest-waste-in-all-the-world-is-living-below-our-potential/) [Harold B. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-b-lee/) > [Possibly the greatest waste in life is the gap between what you are and what you could become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/possibly-the-greatest-waste-in-life-is-the-gap-between-what-you-are/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. The greatest waste in all of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-legacy-we-leave-is-not-just-in-our-possessions-but-in-the-quality/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I think the internet is the greatest waste of time since masturbation was discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-think-the-internet-is-the-greatest-waste-of-time-since-masturbation/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [There is still zero empirical evidence that anthropogenic production of CO2 is making any measurable contribution to the world's present warming trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-is-still-zero-empirical-evidence-that-anthropogenic-production/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [I love Black Sabbath. They made an amazing contribution to music today. Almost every band that made it big in the Nineties owed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-love-black-sabbath-they-made-an-amazing-contribution-to-music-today/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [Effort is the one strictly undervalued and original contribution we make to this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/effort-is-the-one-strictly-undervalued-and-original-contribution-we/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) Vernon Johns ## More by W. Edwards Deming > [Absence of defects does not necessarily build business... Something more is required.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/absence-of-defects-does-not-necessarily-build-business-something-more/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [In Japan, a company worker's position is secure. He is retrained for another job if his present job is eliminated by productivity improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/in-japan-a-company-worker-s-position-is-secure-he-is-retrained-for/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [We are here to make another world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/we-are-here-to-make-another-world/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [It is a mistake to assume that if everybody does his job, it will be all right. The whole system may be in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-is-a-mistake-to-assume-that-if-everybody-does-his-job-it-will-be/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Innovation comes from the producer - not from the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/innovation-comes-from-the-producer-not-from-the-customer/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [The only useful function of a statistician is to make predictions, and thus to provide a basis for action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/the-only-useful-function-of-a-statistician-is-to-make-predictions-and/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [A leader is a coach, not a judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/a-leader-is-a-coach-not-a-judge/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [It does not happen all at once. There is no instant pudding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-does-not-happen-all-at-once-there-is-no-instant-pudding/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Sub-optimization is when everyone is for himself. Optimization is when everyone is working to help the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/sub-optimization-is-when-everyone-is-for-himself-optimization-is-when/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [We know what we told him, but we don't know what he heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/we-know-what-we-told-him-but-we-don-t-know-what-he-heard/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Rational behavior requires theory. Reactive behavior requires only reflex action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/rational-behavior-requires-theory-reactive-behavior-requires-only/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [A manager of people needs to understand that all people are different. This is not ranking people. He needs to understand that the performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/a-manager-of-people-needs-to-understand-that-all-people-are-different/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [“It is not enough to just do your best or work hard; You must know what to work on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-is-not-enough-to-just-do-your-best-or-work-hard-you-must-know-what/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [You have to manage a system. The system doesn't manage itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/you-have-to-manage-a-system-the-system-doesn-t-manage-itself/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Two basic rules of life are: 1) Change is inevitable. 2) Everybody resists change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/two-basic-rules-of-life-are-1-change-is-inevitable-2-everybody/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) [Explore all 255 W. Edwards Deming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greatest waste … is failure to use the abilities of people…to learn about their frustrations and about the contributions that they are eager to make.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. 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