# Quotes about bureaucracy

- Quotes: 90
- Authors: 51
- Broader topic: [Quotes about society](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/society.md)
- Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy
- JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.json

## Quotes

> “There’s sensor data already? I mean, I figured there’d be a few hours at least before they gathered enough to have a meeting about.”
>
> “When people don’t know anything,” Amos said, “they love having meetings to talk about it.”

[James S. A. Corey](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey.md) · [Leviathan Falls](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey/leviathan-falls.md) · p. 383 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey/leviathan-falls/theres-sensor-data.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> “Emily,” Drummer said, “do you know the one thing I am absolutely sure won’t fix any of our problems? Another committee.”

[James S. A. Corey](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey.md) · [Persepolis Rising](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey/persepolis-rising.md) · p. 111 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey/persepolis-rising/emily-drummer-said.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The Archchancellor's most important job, as the Bursar saw it, was to sign things, preferably, from the Bursar's point of view, without reading them first. (p. 11)

[Terry Pratchett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett.md) · [Moving Pictures](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/moving-pictures.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/moving-pictures/the-archchancellors-most.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Is the Witchcraft committee led from below? From the middle or from the top? I rather like Karla's description of committees don't you? Is it Chinese? A committee is an animal with four back legs.

[John le Carré](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-le-carre.md) · [Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-le-carre/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-le-carre/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy/is-the-witchcraft.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The police department’s just another bureaucratic government agency, after all. The top brass don’t think of anything but their own careers. Some are not like that, but most of them have worked their way up playing it safe, and their goal is to find a cushy job in a related organization or private industry after they retire. So they don’t want to touch anything the least bit risky or hot. They probably don’t even eat pizza without letting it cool off.

[Haruki Murakami](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami.md) · [1Q84](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/1q84.md) · p. 343 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/1q84/the-police-departments.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [police](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/police.md)

> Upstairs, MOLA’s offices had the same open-plan cubicle based workspace that has been the delight of code monkeys and low-level paper pushers since one time and motion consultant said to another, “Hey, you know, I don’t think we’ve really dehumanized these white collar drones enough.”

[Ben Aaronovitch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch.md) · [Lies Sleeping](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/lies-sleeping.md) · p. 113 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/lies-sleeping/upstairs-molas-offices.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> “There’s paperwork for magic? asked Vanessa.
>
> “Not so glamorous now, eh?” I said.

[Ben Aaronovitch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch.md) · [The October Man](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/the-october-man.md) · p. 202 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/the-october-man/theres-paperwork-for.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [magic](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/magic.md)

> Police doctrine is, even if you’re waiting for someone to do something violent to your suspect, you should de-escalate the situation because at the very least a peaceful solution produces a ton less paperwork.

[Ben Aaronovitch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch.md) · [The Hanging Tree](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/the-hanging-tree.md) · p. 140 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/the-hanging-tree/police-doctrine-is-even.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Questions would be asked. Answers would be ignored.

[Ben Aaronovitch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch.md) · [Rivers of London](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/rivers-of-london.md) · p. 59 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/rivers-of-london/questions-would-be-asked.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> “But seeing his status doesn’t help,” Mindy said. “It’s not like we can do anything about it if he falls behind. This is a pointless task.”
>
> “How long have you worked for the government?” Venkat sighed.

[Andy Weir](https://www.leafyquotes.com/andy-weir.md) · [The Martian](https://www.leafyquotes.com/andy-weir/the-martian.md) · p. 271 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/andy-weir/the-martian/but-seeing-his.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Sometimes I think about dying. And then I wonder about going to hell. And then I think that if and when I go there, the place will be completely organized and run by lost souls, with a council and a works committee and an ethics panel, and I’ll feel right at home.

[Charles Sheffield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield.md) · [Brother to Dragons](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/brother-to-dragons.md) · p. 144 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/brother-to-dragons/sometimes-i-think.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> He realized a profound truth: there is no one so generous as a bureaucrat spending other people’s money.

[Charles Sheffield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield.md) · [Convergence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/convergence.md) · p. 400 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/convergence/he-realized-a-profound.md)

Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The mills of bureaucracy may or may not grind fine, but they certainly grind exceeding slow.

[Charles Sheffield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield.md) · [The Compleat McAndrew](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/the-compleat-mcandrew.md) · p. 240 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/the-compleat-mcandrew/the-mills-of-bureaucracy.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> What you have to understand is that bureaucracy is an organism, and the prime goal of every organism is self-protection. Bureaucracy exists to protect itself.

[Emily St John Mandel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emily-st-john-mandel.md) · [Sea of Tranquility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emily-st-john-mandel/sea-of-tranquility.md) · p. 151 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emily-st-john-mandel/sea-of-tranquility/what-you-have.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Everyone knows how compromised the idea of bureaucracy as a meritocratic system is. The first criterion of loyalty to any organization is therefore complicity. Career advancement is not based on merit but on a willingness to play along with the fiction that career advancement is based on merit, or with the fiction that rules and regulations apply to everyone equally, when in fact they are often deployed as an instrument of arbitrary personal power. ... As whole societies have come to represent themselves as giant credentialized meritocracies, rather than as systems of predatory extraction, we bustle about, trying to curry favor by pretending we actually believe it to be true.

[David Graeber](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-graeber.md) · [The Utopia of Rules](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-graeber/the-utopia-of-rules.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-graeber/the-utopia-of-rules/everyone-knows-how.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> We no longer like to think about bureaucracy, yet it informs every aspect of out existence. It’s as if as a planetary civilization, we have decided to clap out hands over our ears and start humming whenever the topic comes up.

[David Graeber](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-graeber.md) · [The Utopia of Rules](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-graeber/the-utopia-of-rules.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-graeber/the-utopia-of-rules/we-no-longer.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> “What’s going on?” I whispered to Gina.
>
> “Management is proving beyond a shadow of a doubt they don’t have enough to do,” she murmured back. “So they’ve invented a new acronym.”

[Connie Willis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis.md) · [Bellwether](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether.md) · p. 33 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether/whats-going-on-i-whispered.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Management’ll never go for it. First, it’s live-animal research, which is controversial. Management hates controversy. Second, it’s something innovative, which means Management will hate it on principle.

[Connie Willis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis.md) · [Bellwether](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether.md) · p. 151 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether/managementll-never-go-for.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Management cares about only one thing. Paperwork. They will forgive almost anything else—cost overruns, gross incompetence, criminal indictments—as long as the paperwork’s filled out properly. And in on time.

[Connie Willis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis.md) · [Bellwether](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether.md) · p. 140 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/connie-willis/bellwether/management-cares-about.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> In secrecy, bureaucracies grow large, ungainly and unaccountable to those they are meant to serve. When there is no fierce spotlight of public accountability shining, there is no pressure to ensure systems are streamlined or even working. What you find throughout any bureaucracy protected by secrecy is a cesspit of illogic and waste. And because the state keeps rebranding, shifting responsibility from one set of bureaucrats to another, most of the work being done is for the purpose of keeping other bureaucrats in employment rather than satisfying the needs of the public.

[Heather Brooke](https://www.leafyquotes.com/heather-brooke.md) · [The Silent State](https://www.leafyquotes.com/heather-brooke/the-silent-state.md) · p. 35 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/heather-brooke/the-silent-state/in-secrecy-bureaucracies.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Bureaucracy is the business of controlling other humans, making them do what you want them to do. That may be acceptable if what you are asking them to do is reasonable, rational and for the common good, but more likely what bureaucrats ask is treasonable, nonsensical and counterproductive to the public good. This is because the primary business of a bureaucrat, left unchecked, is creating more bureaucracy to further his or her own prestige and power. The result is that rules are in place serving no function but to keep bureaucrats in work and to expand their bureaucratic fiefdom. Before you know it you can't even hold a village fete without filling out more than fifteen different forms from various arms of the government.

[Heather Brooke](https://www.leafyquotes.com/heather-brooke.md) · [The Silent State](https://www.leafyquotes.com/heather-brooke/the-silent-state.md) · p. 92 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/heather-brooke/the-silent-state/bureaucracy-is-the.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Like most colonies, Zaïre had impose on it a stifling bureaucracy, the sole function of which was to refer decisions upward to its colonial masters. Local officials rarely had the power to do things, only to prevent them from being done until bribed. So once the colonial masters are removed, the bureaucracy continues to thrash around like a headless chicken with nothing to do but trip itself up, bump into things, and, when it can get the firepower, shoot itself in the foot. You can always tell an ex-colony from the inordinate numbers of people who are able to find employment stopping anybody who has anything to do from doing it.

[Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [Last Chance to See](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/last-chance-to-see.md) · p. 65 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/last-chance-to-see/like-most-colonies.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [corruption](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/corruption.md)

> There wasn’t even any reasoning. Secrecy was just a bureaucrats’ reflex.

[China Miéville](https://www.leafyquotes.com/china-mieville.md) · [Embassytown](https://www.leafyquotes.com/china-mieville/embassytown.md) · p. 276 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/china-mieville/embassytown/there-wasnt-even.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Think. You have had your dealings with our bureaucracy. It is impossible not to, especially if one is a foreigner. Believe me, when we set our minds to it we can tangle, obstruct, and bring to a dead halt a herd of stampeding elephants.

[Poul Anderson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/poul-anderson.md) · [The Boat of a Million Years](https://www.leafyquotes.com/poul-anderson/the-boat-of-a-million-years.md) · p. 291 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/poul-anderson/the-boat-of-a-million-years/think-you-have.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Goddam organizers, he thought. You get something good going, and somebody comes along and organizes it. He told himself that this was inevitable, the way of the world, but it bothered him. The raven would have been in favor of a movement in the general direction of chaos, consternation, and disorganization, had he not known that such a project would require the most organization of all. Besides, there would undoubtedly be a squirrel running it.

[Peter S. Beagle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-s-beagle.md) · [A Fine and Private Place](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-s-beagle/a-fine-and-private-place.md) · p. 87 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-s-beagle/a-fine-and-private-place/goddam-organizers-he-thought.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> She had always admired the way bureaucracies spontaneously produced leaden prose, blandly sliding from the mouths of people who absolutely believed everything they said.

[Gregory Benford](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford.md) · [The Sunborn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/the-sunborn.md) · p. 128 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/the-sunborn/she-had-always.md)

Topics: [language](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/language.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Government doesn’t often move quickly, but when they do, it’s like an elephant stampede.

[Gregory Benford](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford.md) · [Cosm](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/cosm.md) · p. 327 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/cosm/government-doesnt-often.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> She was grateful for something more than smooth, meaningless phrases. Better, the man had not reverted to the hedged-in, minimize-possible-damage style. And the first of all the commandments shall be: Cover Thy Ass.

[Gregory Benford](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford.md) · [Cosm](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/cosm.md) · p. 138 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/cosm/she-was-grateful.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Policing, as with all procedural jobs, expands to fill all the time and consume all the resources available for it.

[Charles Stross](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross.md) · [Rule 34](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross/rule-34.md) · p. 226 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-stross/rule-34/policing-as-with.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [police](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/police.md)

> I’d come to realize over the years that anything created by mankind had error, mischief and bureaucratic officialdom hardwired at inception, and the fictional world was no different.

[Jasper Fforde](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde.md) · [First Among Sequels](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/first-among-sequels.md) · p. 54 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/first-among-sequels/id-come-to-realize.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Like any other big government department, it looks good on paper but is an utter shambles. Petty infighting and political agendas, arrogance and sheer bloody-mindedness almost guarantees that the left hand doesn’t know what the right is doing.

[Jasper Fforde](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde.md) · [The Eyre Affair](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/the-eyre-affair.md) · p. 18 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/the-eyre-affair/like-any-other.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Anything devised by man has bureaucracy, corruption and error hardwired at inception.

[Jasper Fforde](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde.md) · [The Well of Lost Plots](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/the-well-of-lost-plots.md) · p. 97 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/the-well-of-lost-plots/anything-devised-by-man.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [corruption](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/corruption.md)

> Britannia, that unfortunate female, is always before me, like a trussed fowl: skewered through and through with office-pens, and bound hand and foot with red tape.

[Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [David Copperfield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/david-copperfield.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/david-copperfield/britannia-that-unfortunate.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The idea is to generate paperwork. The word could hardly be more apt. Paper is work. Paper is the big employer. Someone fills out a form (in triplicate), someone files one copy, the other copy goes somewhere else to be filed by someone else, the third is retained by the customer for his records. The most insignificant transaction must be scrupulously recorded and logged, filed and stored, even, on occasion, retrieved. On a trip to Libya, p. 183.

[Geoff Dyer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/geoff-dyer.md) · [Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered to Do It](https://www.leafyquotes.com/geoff-dyer/yoga-for-people-who-cant-be-bothered-to-do-it.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/geoff-dyer/yoga-for-people-who-cant-be-bothered-to-do-it/the-idea-is-to-generate.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Gadfium found these meetings exasperating; they were supposed to keep people up to date with developments and help facilitate actions which might be of use in the current emergency, but so far all they ever seemed to do was pander to some of the attendees’ feelings of self-importance and produce vast amounts of talk that substituted for deeds rather than leading to them.

[Iain M. Banks](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks.md) · [Feersum Endjinn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks/feersum-endjinn.md) · p. 168 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/iain-m-banks/feersum-endjinn/gadfium-found-these.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The clerical work is par for the course. "Keep on file in numerical order" means throw in wastebasket. You'll soon learn the language. "Let it be a challenge to you" means you're stuck with it; "interpersonal relationships" is a fight between kids; "ancillary civic agencies for supportive discipline" means call the cops; "Language Arts Dept." is the English office; "literature based on child's reading level and experiential background" means that's all they've got in the Book Room; "non-academic-minded" is a delinquent; and "It has come to my attention" means you're in trouble.

[Bel Kaufman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman.md) · [Up the Down Staircase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase/the-clerical-work.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [language](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/language.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The ceiling fell? The ink ran dry? A student dared to smile?
>
> Of every new disaster
>
> I prove myself the master
>
> By sending out more circulars, more circulars to file!
>
> A missing kid? A kissing kid? A paper on the floor?
>
> For every major crisis
>
> One remedy suffices:
>
> More circulars, more circulars, to put into a drawer!A crowded cafeteria?
>
> A substitute's hysteria?
>
> A visitor from Syria?
>
> A missing Book Receipt?I merely send out circulars
>
> To add to other circulars
>
> To add to other circulars
>
> Numerical and neat!

[Bel Kaufman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman.md) · [Up the Down Staircase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase/the-ceiling-fell.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The distribution of tasks among the various employees follows a simple rule, which is that the duty of the members of each category is to do as much work as they possibly can, so that only a small part of that work need be passed to the category above. This means that the clerks are obliged to work without cease from morning to night, whereas the senior clerks do so only now and then, the deputies very rarely, and the Registrar almost never.

[José Saramago](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jose-saramago.md) · [All The Names](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jose-saramago/all-the-names.md) · p. 2 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jose-saramago/all-the-names/the-distribution-of-tasks.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Nothing the government touches ever ends up looking just the way you thought it would before you started—you need to understand that right from the beginning, or else you start going crazy.

[Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [Settling Accounts: In at the Death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/settling-accounts-in-at-the-death.md) · p. 465 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/settling-accounts-in-at-the-death/nothing-the-government.md)

Topics: [the state](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-state.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> He’d got good at the bureaucratic infighting, too, the sort of quiet warfare that measured itself as much by things prevented as by those accomplished.

[Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [Settling Accounts: Drive to the East](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/settling-accounts-drive-to-the-east.md) · p. 78 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/settling-accounts-drive-to-the-east/hed-got-good.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Will be appointed. Will be accepted. Will be permitted. Abell didn’t say who would do any of those things. He probably didn’t even think about it. In his world, things just happened, without any particular agency. That made him a good bureaucrat. Whether it made him a good soldier was a different question.

[Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [Settling Accounts: Drive to the East](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/settling-accounts-drive-to-the-east.md) · p. 242 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/settling-accounts-drive-to-the-east/will-be-appointed.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> But, as often happened, the official and the real had only a nodding acquaintance with each other.

[Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [American Empire: The Victorious Opposition](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/american-empire-the-victorious-opposition.md) · p. 18 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/american-empire-the-victorious-opposition/but-as-often.md)

Topics: [reality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reality.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> “The War Department has all sorts of opinions,” he said, sneering as he had when Dowling announced the Roosevelt was there. “A few of them bear a discernible relation to the real world—but only a few, mind you.”

[Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [The Great War: Breakthroughs](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-great-war-breakthroughs.md) · p. 84 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-great-war-breakthroughs/the-war-department-has.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> “The Holy Spirit will guide the assembled fathers to the truth,” the magistrianos said confidently. Being a veteran of years of bureaucratic infighting, he added, “Of course, we may have to help things along a bit.”

[Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [Agent of Byzantium](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/agent-of-byzantium.md) · p. 225 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/agent-of-byzantium/the-holy-spirit.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [religion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/religion.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The Barnacles were a very high family, and a very large family. They were dispersed all over the public offices, and held all sorts of public places. Either the nation was under a load of obligation to the Barnacles, or the Barnacles were under a load of obligation to the nation. It was not quite unanimously settled which; the Barnacles having their opinion, the nation theirs.

[Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [Little Dorrit](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/little-dorrit.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/little-dorrit/the-barnacles-were.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Whatever was required to be done, the Circumlocution Office was beforehand with all the public departments in the art of perceiving — HOW NOT TO DO IT.

[Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [Little Dorrit](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/little-dorrit.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/little-dorrit/whatever-was-required.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government. No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office. Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart. It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.

[Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [Little Dorrit](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/little-dorrit.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/little-dorrit/the-circumlocution-office.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> How easily we Indians see the several sides to every question! That is what makes us such good bureaucrats, and such poor totalitarians. They say the new international organizations set up by the wonderfully optimistic (if oxymoronic) United Nations are full of highly successful Indian officials with quick, subtle minds and mellifluous tongues, for ever able to understand every global crisis from the point of view of each and every one of the contending parties. That is why they do so well, Ganapathi, in any situation that calls for an instinctive awareness of the subjectivity of truth, the relativity of judgement and the impossibility of action.

[Shashi Tharoor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shashi-tharoor.md) · [The Great Indian Novel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shashi-tharoor/the-great-indian-novel.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shashi-tharoor/the-great-indian-novel/how-easily-we-indians.md)

Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [point of view](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/point-of-view.md)

> Bureaucracy is simultaneously the most crippling of Indian diseases and the highest of Indian art forms.

[Shashi Tharoor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shashi-tharoor.md) · [The Great Indian Novel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shashi-tharoor/the-great-indian-novel.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shashi-tharoor/the-great-indian-novel/bureaucracy-is-simultaneously.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> “A lot of things they speak of doing are things many humans have wanted to do but have never been able to muster a mandate to get them done. Things like legalizing drugs to take out the profit motive. Or paying teachers the way we do athletes, depending on how effective they are. Or getting rid of weapons whose only purpose is to kill people.”
>
> “Is a mandate necessary?”
>
> “If you’re going to overcome an economic incentive, yes.”
>
> “Logic has no part?”
>
> “No part at all. People can see the problem, they’re not stupid, but they can’t influence the legislators the way money can. Even when bad situations go on and on until the people are desperate for a correction, even when they threaten legislators with voting them out, the money still prevails.”
>
> “It is hard for me to see how this could happen.”
>
> Chad said, “The legislators react to a problem by writing a law, let’s say to put repeat drunk drivers in jail. The liquor industry objects, because they don’t like a lot of discussion about drunkenness, it hurts their image. The legislators react by amending the law to create a commission to study how best to jail drunk drivers. Then, when the budget bills come along, they fund only the commission. The appointees to the commission include representatives of the liquor industry.
>
> “This allows the legislators to claim success, because the law got voted in. The liquor industry also claims success, because they made sure the law won’t work.
>
> “The next step is to hire a lot of people to work for the commission, many of whom are also liquor industry supporters, and the commission begins to issue long, complicated, vaguely pointless reports. Now, however, there are jobs involved, and legislators can’t get rid of jobs, even useless ones.
>
> “Then, repeatedly, the lawmakers amend the law further, tweaking this and changing that, but always adding more jobs—until we have a bureaucratic monstrosity that’s in the business of helping the liquor industry prevent legislation against drunk drivers. That’s the way our Forestry Service got to be owned by the lumbermen, and our DEA got to be owned by the drug cartels, welfare got to be owned by a social work hierarchy, and schools got to be owned by professional educationalists. None of them work, because that’s not what they’re designed to do.”

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [The Fresco](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-fresco.md) · p. 438 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-fresco/a-lot-of-things.md)

Topics: [politics](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/politics.md), [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [corruption](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/corruption.md)

> Oh, I know what you Enforcers think about the council, Ertigon. We’d have to be complete fools not to know. You take us for pompous idiots, mostly, layabouts who spend our days eating and drinking and engaging in our effete little rituals, none of which mean anything, accomplish anything. You’re perfectly right, that’s what we are. But then, that’s what we were assigned to do. That’s what we’re here for. It’s what all public servants have always been: roadblocks, resistors, interceptors of change, valves designed to shut down the flow of events, inhibitors of revolution, delayers of evolution, servants of the status quo.

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Sideshow](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/sideshow.md) · p. 249 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/sideshow/oh-i-know.md)

Topics: [change](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/change.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> I meant the petitions to provoke thought, to create discussion, but I underestimated the inertia in the system. I forgot that inertia is what bureaucracies are all about!

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Sideshow](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/sideshow.md) · p. 323 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/sideshow/i-meant-the.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Sometimes there is such crowding that there is irritation, and this makes fear or anger; and following fear comes meetings of councils to make regulations; and following regulations is further irritation at the laws that are made.

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Jinian Star-Eye](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/jinian-star-eye.md) · p. 37 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/jinian-star-eye/sometimes-there-is-such.md)

Topics: [law](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/law.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md)

> The official style is at once humble, polite, curt and disagreeable: it derives partly from that used in Byzantine times by the eunuch slave-secretariat, writing stiffly in the name of His Sacred Majesty, whose confidence they enjoyed, to their fellow-slaves outside the palace precincts — for the Emperor had summary power over everyone; and partly from the style used by the cleric-bureaucracy of the Middle Ages, writing stiffly in the name of the feudal lords to their serfs and, though cautious of offending their employers, protected from injury by being servants of the Church, not of the Crown, and so subject to canon, not feudal, law. The official style of civil servants, so far as it recalls its Byzantine derivation, is written by slaves to fellow-slaves of a fictitious tyrant; and, so far as it recalls its mediaeval derivation, is written by members of a quasi-ecclesiastical body, on behalf of quasi-feudal ministers (who, being politicians, come under a different code of behaviour from theirs) to a serflike public.

[Robert Graves](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-graves.md) · [The Reader Over Your Shoulder](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-graves/the-reader-over-your-shoulder.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-graves/the-reader-over-your-shoulder/the-official-style.md)

Topics: [history](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/history.md), [writing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/writing.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The chief trouble with the official style is that it spreads far beyond the formal contexts to which it is suited. Most civil servants, having learned to write in this way, cannot throw off the habit. The obscurity of their public announcements largely accounts for the disrepute into which Departmental activities have fallen: for the public naturally supposes that Departments are as muddled and stodgy as their announcements.
>
> The habit of obscurity is partly caused by a settled disinclination among public servants to give a definite refusal even where assent is out of the question; or to convey a vigorous rebuke even where, in private correspondence, any person with self-respect would feel bound to do so. The mood is conveyed by a polite and emasculated style — polite because, when writing to a member of the public, the public servant is, in theory at least, addressing one of his collective employers; emasculated because, as a cog in the Government machine, he must make his phrases look as mechanical as possible by stripping them of all personal feeling and opinion.

[Robert Graves](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-graves.md) · [The Reader Over Your Shoulder](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-graves/the-reader-over-your-shoulder.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-graves/the-reader-over-your-shoulder/the-chief-trouble.md)

Topics: [writing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/writing.md), [language](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/language.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The essence of totalitarian government, and perhaps the nature of every bureaucracy, is to make functionaries and mere cogs in the administrative machinery out of men, and thus to dehumanise them.

[Hannah Arendt](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hannah-arendt.md) · [Eichmann in Jerusalem](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hannah-arendt/eichmann-in-jerusalem.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hannah-arendt/eichmann-in-jerusalem/the-essence-of-totalitarian.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [totalitarianism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/totalitarianism.md)

> I know the military. The sooner they can kick a problem upstairs the happier they will be.

[Stephen Baxter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-baxter.md) · [Ultima](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-baxter/ultima.md) · p. 67 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-baxter/ultima/i-know-the.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> How is it possible that today's academic Left has supported rather than protested campus speech codes as well as the grotesque surveillance and over-regulation of student life? American colleges have abandoned their educational mission and become government colonies, ruled by officious bureaucrats enforcing federal dictates. This despotic imperialism has no place in a modern democracy.

[Camille Paglia](https://www.leafyquotes.com/camille-paglia.md) · [Free Women, Free Men](https://www.leafyquotes.com/camille-paglia/free-women-free-men.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/camille-paglia/free-women-free-men/how-is-it-possible.md)

Topics: [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [freedom of speech](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/freedom-of-speech.md)

> While I was mayor, I learned that government is a system of checks and balances — you can't simply walk in and change things. It takes time. I used to joke that it would be nice if a magic wand came with the job, if I could just wave it and make things work the way they're supposed to. But unfortunately it's not that easy. The bureaucracy is so huge that in a lot of situations all I can do is tell people the truth and let the chips fall where they may.

[Jesse Ventura](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jesse-ventura.md) · [I Ain't Got Time to Bleed](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jesse-ventura/i-aint-got-time-to-bleed.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jesse-ventura/i-aint-got-time-to-bleed/while-i-was.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The policy was to keep everything in watertight compartments. In the interests of security, they said, but more likely in the interests of inefficiency.

[Fred Hoyle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fred-hoyle.md) · [The Black Cloud](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fred-hoyle/the-black-cloud.md) · p. 84 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fred-hoyle/the-black-cloud/the-policy-was.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> He never went very far astray in his official business, because he always obeyed the clerks and followed precedents.

[Anthony Trollope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope.md) · [The Prime Minister](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope/the-prime-minister.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-trollope/the-prime-minister/he-never-went.md)

Topics: [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> It was the sort of review board that Jeff thoroughly disapproved of; hands-on bureaucratic interference in university and agency programs always lead to pure science being impoverished.

[Peter F. Hamilton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-f-hamilton.md) · [Misspent Youth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-f-hamilton/misspent-youth.md) · p. 152 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-f-hamilton/misspent-youth/it-was-the.md)

Topics: [science](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/science.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> People are being pushed around, disrespected, defrauded, injured, and given the runaround by arrogant corporate bureaucrats using nameless, robotic, and tyrannical "fine print" contract barricades.

[Ralph Nader](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-nader.md) · [To the Ramparts](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-nader/to-the-ramparts.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-nader/to-the-ramparts/people-are-being.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [capitalism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/capitalism.md)

> A million bureaucrats are diligently plotting death and some of them even know it.

[Thomas Pynchon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-pynchon.md) · [Gravity's Rainbow](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-pynchon/gravitys-rainbow.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-pynchon/gravitys-rainbow/a-million-bureaucrats.md)

Topics: [death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/death.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Last month we had to sit through a presentation on eliminating redundancy, and it was a bunch of PowerPoint slides, plus a guy reading out what was on the slides, and then he gave us all hard copies.

[Max Barry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry.md) · [Company](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry/company.md) · p. 49 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry/company/last-month-we-had.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The departments don’t report the problem because a good manager knows the only reason to call Senior Management, ever, is to deliver good news. People who ring Senior Management with problems do not have much of a future at Zephyr Holdings. Senior Management is not there to hold departmental hands. It is there to dispense stock options.

[Max Barry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry.md) · [Company](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry/company.md) · p. 71 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-barry/company/the-departments-dont.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> It wasn't [the Captain's] job to worry about that, though. It was his job to do his job, which was to do his job. If that led to a certain narrowness of vision and circularity of thought, then it wasn't his job to worry about such things. Any such things that came his way were referred to others, who had, in turn, other people to refer such things to.

[Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [Mostly Harmless](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/mostly-harmless.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/mostly-harmless/it-wasnt-the.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Somewhere on a fetid, fog-bound mud bank on [Vogsphere] there stands, surrounded by the dirty, broken and empty carapaces of the last few jeweled scuttling crabs, a small stone monument which marks the place where, it is thought, the species Vogon Vogonblurtus first arose. On the monument there is carved an arrow which points away, into the fog, under which is inscribed in plain, simple letters the words "The buck stops there."

[Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [Mostly Harmless](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/mostly-harmless.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/mostly-harmless/somewhere-on-a-fetid.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [responsibility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/responsibility.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> "But the plans were on display . . ."
>
> "On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them."
>
> "That's the display department."
>
> "With a torch."
>
> "Ah, well the lights had probably gone."
>
> "So had the stairs."
>
> "But look, you found the notice, didn't you?"
>
> "Yes," said Arthur, "yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying Beware of the Leopard."

[Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: Primary Phase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase/but-the-plans.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> There’s no point in acting surprised about it. All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display at your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for 50 of your Earth years, so you’ve had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it’s far too late to start making a fuss about it now. ... What do you mean you’ve never been to Alpha Centauri? Oh, for heaven’s sake, mankind, it’s only four light years away, you know. I’m sorry, but if you can’t be bothered to take an interest in local affairs, that’s your own lookout. Energize the demolition beams.

[Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: Primary Phase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase/theres-no-point.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> "Vogon Constructor Fleets. Here is what to do if you want to get a lift from a Vogon: forget it. They are one of the most unpleasant races in the Galaxy—not actually evil, but bad-tempered, officious and callous. They wouldn't even lift a finger to save their own grandmothers from the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal without orders signed in triplicate, sent in, sent back, queried, lost, found, subjected to public inquiry, queried, lost again, and finally buried in soft peat for three months and recycled as firelighters.
>
> "The best way to get a drink out of a Vogon is to stick your finger down his throat, and the best way to irritate him is to feed his grandmother to the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal.
>
> "On no account allow a Vogon to read poetry at you."

[Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: Primary Phase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase/vogon-constructor-fleets.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Was there a place for him in this modern world, where systems mattered more than people?

[P.D. James](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pd-james.md) · [A Certain Justice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pd-james/a-certain-justice.md) · p. 126 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pd-james/a-certain-justice/was-there-a-place.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Few great men could pass personnel.

[Paul Goodman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman.md) · [Growing Up Absurd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd.md) · p. 153 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd/few-great-men.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [genius](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/genius.md)

> We live increasingly in a system in which little direct attention is paid to the object, the function, the program, the task, the need; but immense attention to the role, the procedure, prestige, and profit.

[Paul Goodman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman.md) · [Growing Up Absurd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd/we-live-increasingly.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The thing that is most interesting about government servants is that they believe what they are supposed to believe, they really do believe what they are supposed to believe.

[Gertrude Stein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gertrude-stein.md) · [Wars I Have Seen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gertrude-stein/wars-i-have-seen.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gertrude-stein/wars-i-have-seen/the-thing-that.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> I guess this is why I hate governments. It is always the rule, the fine print, carried out by the fine print men. There's nothing to fight, no wall to hammer with frustrated fists.

[John Steinbeck](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck.md) · [Travels with Charley in Search of America](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck/travels-with-charley-in-search-of-america.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-steinbeck/travels-with-charley-in-search-of-america/i-guess-this.md)

Topics: [the state](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-state.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> “Yeah yeah. We’d better call a meeting then,” Peter said, looking as annoyed at her as she felt at him.
>
> “Yeah yeah,” Ann said heavily. Meetings. But they had their uses; people could assume they meant something, while the real work went on elsewhere.

[Kim Stanley Robinson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kim-stanley-robinson.md) · [Blue Mars](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kim-stanley-robinson/blue-mars.md) · p. 10 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kim-stanley-robinson/blue-mars/yeah-yeah-wed.md)

Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Like all bureaucrats, he was bewildered by an unpredictable development.

[Robert Silverberg](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-silverberg.md) · [The Gate of Worlds](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-silverberg/the-gate-of-worlds.md) · p. 33 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-silverberg/the-gate-of-worlds/like-all-bureaucrats.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Do this. Don't do that. Stay back in line. Where's tax receipt? Fill out form. Let's see license. Submit six copies. Exit only. No left turn. No right turn. Queue up and pay fine. Take back and get stamped. Drop dead — but first get permit.

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein.md) · [The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/the-moon-is-a-harsh-mistress.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/the-moon-is-a-harsh-mistress/do-this-dont.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Paymasters come in only two sizes: one sort shows you where the book says that you can’t have what you've got coming to you; the second sort digs through the book until he finds a paragraph that lets you have what you need even if you don’t rate it.

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein.md) · [The Door into Summer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/the-door-into-summer.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-a-heinlein/the-door-into-summer/paymasters-come-in-only.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Men meet together for many reasons in the course of business. They need to instruct or persuade each other. They must agree on a course of action. They find thinking in public more productive or less painful than thinking in private. But there are at least as many reasons for meetings to transact no business. Meetings are held because men seek companionship or, at a minimum, wish to escape the tedium of solitary duties. They yearn for the prestige which accrues to the man who presides over meetings, and this leads them to convoke assemblages over which they can preside. Finally, there is the meeting which is called not because there is business to be done, but because it is necessary to create the impression that business is being done. Such meetings are more than a substitute for action. They are widely regarded as action.

[John Kenneth Galbraith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith.md) · [The Great Crash 1929](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-great-crash-1929.md) · p. 139 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-great-crash-1929/men-meet-together.md)

Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Moreover, regulatory bodies, like the people who comprise them, have a marked life cycle. In youth they are vigorous, aggressive, evangelistic, and even intolerant. Later they mellow, and in old age — after a matter of ten or fifteen years — they become, with some exceptions, either an arm of the industry they are regulating or senile.

[John Kenneth Galbraith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith.md) · [The Great Crash 1929](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-great-crash-1929.md) · p. 165 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-great-crash-1929/moreover-regulatory-bodies.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Bureaucracy is a construction by which a person is conveniently separated from the consequences of his or her actions.

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb.md) · [Skin in the Game](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/skin-in-the-game.md) · p. 12 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/skin-in-the-game/bureaucracy-is-a-construction.md)

Topics: [responsibility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/responsibility.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Forecasting by bureaucrats tends to be used for anxiety relief rather than for adequate policy making.

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb.md) · [The Black Swan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-black-swan.md) · p. 162 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-black-swan/forecasting-by-bureaucrats.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [prophecies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/prophecies.md)

> The end result of complete cellular representation is cancer. Democracy is cancerous, and bureaus are its cancer. A bureau takes root anywhere in the state, turns malignant like the Narcotic Bureau, and grows and grows, always reproducing more of its own kind, until it chokes the host if not controlled or excised. Bureaus cannot live without a host, being true parasitic organisms. (A cooperative on the other hand can live without the state. That is the road to follow. The building up of independent units to meet needs of the people who participate in the functioning of the unit. A bureau operates on opposite principles of inventing needs to justify its existence.) Bureaucracy is wrong as a cancer, a turning away from the human evolutionary direction of infinite potentials and differentiation and independent spontaneous action to the complete parasitism of a virus. (It is thought that the virus is a degeneration from more complex life-form. It may at one time have been capable of independent life. Now has fallen to the borderline between living and dead matter. It can exhibit living qualities only in a host, by using the life of another — the renunciation of life itself, a falling towards inorganic, inflexible machine, towards dead matter.) Bureaus die when the structure of the state collapse. They are as helpless and unfit for independent existence as a displaced tapeworm, or a virus that has killed the host.

[William S. Burroughs](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-s-burroughs.md) · [Naked Lunch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-s-burroughs/naked-lunch.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-s-burroughs/naked-lunch/the-end-result.md)

Topics: [the state](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-state.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> There is so much red tape in these matters.

[Arthur Conan Doyle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle.md) · [The Return of Sherlock Holmes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-return-of-sherlock-holmes.md) · p. 626 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-return-of-sherlock-holmes/there-is-so-much.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. This is the danger of an entrenched bureaucracy to it's subject population. Even "spoils" systems are preferable because levels of tolerance are lower and the corrupt can be thrown out periodically. Entrenched bureaucracy seldom can be touched short of violence. Beware when Civil service and military join hands!

[Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Chapterhouse: Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/chapterhouse-dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/chapterhouse-dune/power-attracts-the.md)

Topics: [power](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/power.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [corruption](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/corruption.md)

> Bureaucracy destroys initiative. There is little that bureaucrats hate more than innovation, especially innovation that produces better results than the old routines. Improvements always make those at the top of the heap look inept. Who enjoys appearing inept?

[Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Heretics of Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/heretics-of-dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/heretics-of-dune/bureaucracy-destroys-initiative.md)

Topics: [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> I don’t mean the EPA, the chemical Keystone Kops. Offices full of mediocre chemists, led by the lowest bottom-feeders of all: political appointees. Expecting them to do anything controversial is like expecting a hay fever sufferer to harvest a field of ragweed. For God’s sake, they wouldn’t even admit that chlordane was dangerous. And if they don’t have the balls to take preventative measures, punitive action doesn’t even enter their minds. The laws are broken so universally that they don’t know what to do. They don’t even look for violators.

[Neal Stephenson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson.md) · [Zodiac](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/zodiac.md) · p. 57 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neal-stephenson/zodiac/i-dont-mean.md)

Topics: [ecology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ecology.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md)

> The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part of the authorities to act slowly and impersonally, in the manner of planets or vegetables.

[Jorge Luis Borges](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jorge-luis-borges.md) · [Ficciones](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jorge-luis-borges/ficciones.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jorge-luis-borges/ficciones/the-execution-was.md)

Topics: [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [capital punishment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/capital-punishment.md)