Lois McMaster Bujold, writer

If the truth doesn't save us, what does that say about us? -Lois McMaster Bujold, writer (1949- )

A very good question, or rather, two very good questions. Does the truth save us? No. Rather, it makes clear that we desperately need to be saved, which is the answer to the second question.

Peter F. Drucker

"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." -- Peter F. Drucker

Is it more useless to do it efficiently than to do it inefficiently?  Yes, because attaining efficiency in anything requires extra effort.

Denis Waitley, productivity consultant

"Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer." -- Denis Waitley

It is true that getting mired in the past is not good and that moving ahead is important, but it is also important to learn from your mistakes. It is necessary often to determine the root cause of the failure even before deciding what to do next.

Abraham H. Maslow, Psychologist

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." -- Abraham H. Maslow

I see this demonstrated a lot in the workplace, and it is the reason multi-functional teams can be so valuable in problem-solving.

H. L. Hunt

"Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work." -- H. L. Hunt

But taking a hint from Roger Martin in The Opposable Mind, don't decide too quickly that you inevitably have to exchange something. You may not be in a zero-sum game.

Aldous Huxley, novelist

So long as men worship the Caesars and Napoleons, Caesars and Napoleons will duly rise and make them miserable. -Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963)

And it doesn't have to be worship in the full sense. The Caesars were eventually considered gods, whereas Napoleon never was. However, many people thought Napoleon could do no wrong, which is effectively the same thing, and eventually he rose to make the world miserable.