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It is far better to do the right thing wrong than to do the wrong thing right.
Russell L. Ackoff
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Prioritizing ethical actions over flawed execution leads to better outcomes.

This quote emphasizes the importance of making ethical decisions, suggesting that even if the execution of a morally sound choice is imperfect, it is still preferable to making a correct choice that is executed poorly. It conveys the idea that integrity and values are paramount in decision-making, as they determine the ethical compass of our actions.

Themes

EthicsDecision-MakingIntegrityValuesRight Vs Wrong

In practice

Example use cases

Discussing business ethics in a corporate training seminar.

More from Russell L. Ackoff

Creativity is the ability to identify self-imposed constraints, remove them, and explore the consequences of their removal.
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Successful problem solving requires finding the right solution to the right problem. We fail more often because we solve the wrong problem than because we get the wrong solution to the right problem.
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