Institutional Longevity Quotes

Universities are good at long term thinking. Of the 85 institutions in the world that were in existence 500 years ago, 70 of them are universities.

No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!

So you represent Congress, what the fuck is that to the CIA. You’ll be gone in a few years and the CIA will still be here.

The people under our system, like the king in a monarchy, never dies.

If you look at any institution in history - look at the Roman Empire - anything in history, and what it looks like when it's peaking. Look at Apple, and how can you say it's not peaking? ... The thing is, it may take another year or two before it starts to decline, but it has to - everything does.

An institution is beyond any individual. It breathes and lives on its own and always will.

It's the nature of government, to build enduring institutions, structures that stay long after their purpose is over. If you pay people to help the poor, you have people who won't be paid if there aren't any poor, so they'll be sure to find some.

If an institution has not made it after 10 years, it shouldn't be around anymore.

The characteristic danger of great nations, like the Romans or the English which have a long history of continuous creation, is that they may at last fail from not comprehending the great institutions which they have created