WIST Quotations

Ackoff, Russell -- A little book of f-laws: 13 common sins of management (2006)

Dave — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 11:48:27 +0000

Managers who don’t know how to measure what they want settle for wanting what they can measure. For example, those who want a high quality of work life but don’t know how to measure it, often settle for wanting a high standard of living because they can measure it.

Russell L. Ackoff (1919-2009) American organizational theorist, consultant, management scientist
A little book of f-laws: 13 common sins of management (2006)

Burgh, James -- The Dignity of Human Nature, Book 1, sec. 5 “Miscellaneous Thoughts on Prudence in Conversation” (1754)

Dave — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:26:25 +0000

Be sure of the fact before you lose time in searching for a cause.

James Burgh (1714-1775) British politician and writer
The Dignity of Human Nature, Book 1, sec. 5 “Miscellaneous Thoughts on Prudence in Conversation” (1754)
(Source)

Sometimes misattributed to Horace Mann.

Feynman, Richard -- The Character of Physical Laws ch. 3 “The Great Conservation Principles” (1965)

Dave — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:07:33 +0000

For those who want some proof that physicists are human, the proof is in the idiocy of all the different units which they use for measuring energy.

Richard Feynman (1918-1988) American physicist
The Character of Physical Laws ch. 3 “The Great Conservation Principles” (1965)
(Source)