Quote of the Day

If I see a murderous fellow sharpening a knife cleverly, I can borrow his way of sharpening the knife without borrowing his probable intention to commit murder with it; and so, if I see a monarchist dyed in the wool managing a public bureau well, I can learn his business methods without changing one of my republican spots.

--Woodrow Wilson

(Thanks to Don Kettl, who included this in an essay in a new report for the IBM Center for the Business of Government, "Reflections on 21st Century Government Management.")