50 quotes
It is a human inclination to hope things will work out, despite evidence or doubt to the contrary. A successful manager must resist this temptation.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
If you are going to sin, sin against God, not the bureaucracy. God will forgive you but the bureaucracy won't.
It is said that a wise man who stands firm is a statesman, and a foolish man who stands firm is a catastrophe.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
The Devil is in the details, but so is salvation.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
Optimism and stupidity are nearly synonymous.
Develop the capacity to learn from experience.
One must permit his people the freedom to seek added work and greater responsibility. In my organization, there are no formal job descriptions or organization charts.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
Happiness comes from the full use of one's power to achieve excellence.
Life is not meaningless for the man who considers certain actions wrong simply because they are wrong, whether or not they violate the law.
The Quakers have an excellent approach to thinking through difficult problems, where a number of intelligent and responsible people must work together.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
If history has any meaning for us, it shows that men will continue to use the best weapons they have to win.
Exchange with Admiral Rickover (1982)
Each of us is obligated to bring his individual and independent capacities to bear upon a wide range of human concerns.
The man in charge must concern himself with details.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
Those involved with practical reactors, humbled by their experiences, speak less and worry more.
Paper Reactors, Real Reactors (1953)
Human experience shows that people, not organizations or management systems, get things done.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
A person must prepare himself intellectually and professionally and then use his powers to their fullest extent.
There are no parliamentary procedures and no coercion from the Chair.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
This is the price that must be paid for progress and it is worth it.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
The process has been aptly called coordinating to death.
Principle and accomplishment need not be incompatible.