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Leonard D. White Quotes
1891–1958 United States
Leonard Dupee White (January 17, 1891 – February 23, 1958) was an American historian, and Professor at the University of Chicago, who specialized in public administration in the United States.
United States Academics Historians Also known as: L.D. White, Leonard Dupee White, Leonard White
Random Leonard D. White quote
11 quotes
You cannot give an official power to do right without at the same time giving him power to do wrong.
Public administration is the management of men and materials in the accomplishment of the purposes of the state.
Few of the major tasks of modern administration can be carried out without the constant support of the technician.
Any system of public administration inevitably reflects its environment.
The role of administration in the modern state is profoundly affected by the general political and cultural environment of the age.
The objective of public administration is the most efficient utilization of the resources at the disposal of officials and employees.
More and more clearly it is being understood that the promise of American life will never be realized until American administration has been lifted out of the ruts in which it has been left by a century of neglect.
Whenever we [public officials] make a mistake, some-one jumps on us for it, but whenever we do something well nobody pays any attention to us. We never get any recognition except when we get ‘bawled out’.
As a nation we are, however, slowly accepting the fact that the loose-jointed, easy-going, somewhat irresponsible system of administration which we carried over from our rural, agricultural background is no longer adequate for present and future needs.
To conduct of government business... [is similar to the] conduct of the affairs of any other social organization, commercial, philanthropic, religious, or educational, in all of which good management is recognized as an element essential to success.
One foundation for the future of American democracy is a sound administrative system, able to discharge with competence and integrity the tasks laid upon it by the people. The present system is far in advance of that which sufficed in 1925, but its improvement has no more than kept pace with the added responsibilities heaped upon it.