It's hard not to empathize with the mayor's anger, given the injustices he'd suffered, but righteous anger rarely leads to wise policy.
Interpretation
Righteous anger may be justified but often results in unwise decisions.
This quote emphasizes that while it is natural to feel anger towards injustices, especially by those in positions of power or leadership, allowing that anger to dictate policy decisions can lead to poor outcomes. Instead, it suggests that wisdom and rational thinking should guide decision-making rather than emotional reactions, highlighting the importance of using a level-headed approach in governance and policy formulation.
In practice
This quote could be used in a discussion about emotional decision-making in politics.
Don't equate activity with efficiency. You are paying your key people to see the big picture. Don't let them get bogged down in a lot of meaningless meetings and paper shuffling. Announce a Friday afternoon off once in a while. Cancel a Monday morning meeting or two. Tell the cast of characters you'd like them to spend the amount of time normally spent preparing for attending the meeting at their desks, simply thinking about an original idea.
The key to wisdom is this - constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth.
You can only elevate individual performance by elevating that of the entire system.
Better a little which is well done, than a great deal imperfectly.
Focus on remedies, not faults.
It's not just words. Action expresses priorities.
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