Thursday, May 21, 2026

THURSDAY — LEADERSHIP, HISTORY & POWER

“One must beware of anyone who is stupid and diligent.”

— General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord

In 1933, General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord sorted his officer corps into four types: clever-lazy, clever-diligent, stupid-diligent and stupid-lazy. The clever-diligent he reserved for General Staff with the clever-lazy slotted for senior command. The stupid-and-industrious he insisted be removed outright because misplaced effort, unlike its absence, scales. Ninety years on, the typology reads less like Prussian doctrine and more like a hiring rubric most companies still get backwards. To learn more, Check out the article The Four Classes of Military Officers (Or Office Workers): Clever, Diligent, Stupid and Lazy.

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Stay safe. Stay healthy. Be strong. Lead well.

Chad