We hate to have some people give us advice because we know how badly they need it themselves.

They lead only as the carved wooden figurehead leads the ship.

Few of us ever test our powers of deduction, except when filling out an income tax form

Most hierarchies are nowadays so cumbered with rules and traditions, and so bound in by public laws, that even high employees do not have to lead anyone anywhere, in the sense of pointing out the direction and setting the pace. They simply follow precedents, obey regulations, and move at the head of the crowd. Such employees lead only in the sense that the curved wooden figurehead leads the ship .

In most hierarchies, supercompetence is more objectionable than incompetence.

Everyone rises to their level of incompetence.

I inherited my ability from both parents; my mother's ability for spending money, and my father's ability for not earning it.