Amount Quote by Wernher von Braun
“In order for us to use the very best judgment possible in spending the taxpayer's money intelligently, we just have to do a certain amount of this research and development work ourselves. We just have to keep our own hands dirty to command the professional respect of the contractor personnel engaged with actual design, shop and testing work.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Federal R&D, United States Government, 1965
Effective oversight of public funds requires hands‑on technical expertise to earn contractor respect and ensure quality.
In simple terms: Hands‑on expertise builds trust and better outcomes.
Key Takeaway
Develop internal technical capability.
Themes
government
budget
technology
leadership
Mood
pragmatic
determined
Type
advisory
strategic
When to use this quote
- policy making
- contract negotiations
- project management
Key Concepts
R&D
accountability
expertise
Questions to Reflect On
- How can agencies balance internal work with external expertise?
- What risks arise from over‑reliance on in‑house teams?
A Different Perspective
Internal expertise may be costly and slow innovation.
