The fatal conceit of most bureaucrats is the belief that because they enjoy administration, they are good at it. Far from being facilitators of change, many bureaucrats are petty tyrants and dictators, using a title or uniform to enforce the letter of the law, rather than adhering to its spirit. Often this inclination stems from a lack of vision and courage to support the success of others. More often, it reflects a messianic obsequience to prevailing dogma, and a deference to authority, which, perversely, is the only source to them of the opportunity to exercise power.
Stasism prevails because rule-enforcement appeals to the small-minded, too fearful or lazy to create anything original.
- What is the best government? That which teaches us to govern ourselves. Goethe
