Parkinson's Law of Social Work

It's well known that social problems increase to occupy the total number of social workers available to deal with them.
Jim Hacker remarks.

The Complete Yes Minister by Jonathan Lynn & Anthony Jay

Press 'release'

If in doubt, always issue an absolute denial. And if you're going to lie, then lie with one hundred per cent conviction.
Jim Hacker's strategy of handling politically tricky questions from the media.

The Complete Yes Minister by Jonathan Lynn & Anthony Jay

Decision: not(e) approved

…I was sure a way could be found to alter any adverse decision.
He thought a decision was a decision. I explained that a decision is a decision only if it is the decision you wanted. Otherwise, of course, it is merely a temporary setback.
Sir Humphrey Appleby elucidating a bureaucrat's point of view on 'firm' ministerial decisions.
The Complete Yes Minister by Jonathan Lynn & Anthony Jay

The Banker Debunked

I remarked that he had not read the Financial Times this morning.
'Never do,' he told me. I was surprised. He was a banker after all.
'Can't understand it,' he explained. 'It's too full of economic theory.'
I asked him why he bought it and carried it about under his arm. He explained that it was part of the uniform. He said it took him thirty years to understand Keynes's economics and just when he'd finally got the hang of it everyone started getting hooked on those new-fangled monetarist ideas.
Jim Hacker discovers the truth about bankers.

The Complete Yes Minister by Jonathan Lynn & Anthony Jay

Strength of self-conviction

'You were convinced, and therefore convincing.'
Sir Humphrey Appleby's comment on Jim Hacker, MP, answering a parliament question without knowing the full truth.

The Complete Yes Minister by Jonathan Lynn & Anthony Jay

Law of Inverse Relevance

'The less you intend to do about something, the more you have to keep talking about it.'
- Jim Hacker, MP confesses about politicians' tactics.

The Complete Yes Minister by Jonathan Lynn & Anthony Jay