WIST Quotations

Jay, Antony -- (Attributed)

Dave — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 15:36:59 +0000

The only real training for leadership is leadership.

Antony Jay (1930-2016) English writer, broadcaster, director
(Attributed)

Jay, Antony -- Management and Machiavelli: An Inquiry into the Politics of Corporate Life (1967)

Dave — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 16:22:07 +0000

The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a very creative mind to spot wrong questions.

Antony Jay (1930-2016) English writer, broadcaster, director
Management and Machiavelli: An Inquiry into the Politics of Corporate Life (1967)

Jay, Antony -- Management and Machiavelli: An Inquiry into the Politics of Corporate Life, ch. 17 (1967)

Dave — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 15:58:13 +0000

You can judge a leader by the size of the problem he tackles — people nearly always pick a problem their own size, and ignore or leave to others the bigger or smaller ones. The chief executive should be thinking about the long-term changes which will bring growth or decay to different parts of the enterprise, not fussing over day-to-day problems. Other people can cope with the waves, it’s his job to watch the tide.

Antony Jay (1930-2016) English writer, broadcaster, director
Management and Machiavelli: An Inquiry into the Politics of Corporate Life, ch. 17 (1967)

Jay, Antony -- Yes, Prime Minister, 2×05 “Power to the People” (7 Jan 1988)

Dave — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 02:07:46 +0000

He’s suffering from Politicians’ Logic. Something must be done, this is something, therefore we must do it.

Antony Jay (1930-2016) English writer, broadcaster, director
Yes, Prime Minister, 2×05 “Power to the People” (7 Jan 1988)

Variant: "There is this great idea about the logic of a politician, along the lines of: 'Something must be done, this is something, therefore we must do it.'"