People of great ability do not emerge, as a rule, from the happiest background. So far as my own observation goes, I would conclude that ability, although hereditary, is improved by an early measure of adversity and improved again by a later measure of success.

The vacuum created by a failure to communicate will quickly be filled with rumor, misrepresentations, drivel, and poison.

A committee grows organically, flourishes and blossoms, sunlit on top and shady beneath, until it dies, scattering the seeds from which other committees will spring.

Perfection of planned layout is achieved only by institutions on the point of collapse.

Imagination is essential and it comes first, for without imagination we are aimless.

Parkinson's Fourth Law: The number of people in any working group tends to increase regardless of the amount of work to be done.

It is now well known, however, that men enter local politics solely as a result of being unhappily married.