Charles Issawi Quotes

The total amount of evil in any system remains constant. Hence, any diminution in one direction - for instance, a reduction in poverty or unemployment - is accompanied by an increase in another, e.g., crime or air pollution.

Charles Issawi

• Evil
• System
• Constant

A shortcut is the longest distance between two points.

Charles Issawi

• Distance
• Points
• Shortcut

Cynics: Cynics are right nine times out of ten; what undoes them is their belief that they are right ten times out of ten.

Charles Issawi

• Right
• Cynics
• Undoes

Second Law of Committo-Dynamics: The less you enjoy serving on committees, the more likely you are to be pressed to do so.

Charles Issawi

• Law
• Enjoy
• More

Last Words of Advice: If you pay your taxes and don't get into debt and go to bed early and never answer the telephone, no harm can befall you.

Charles Issawi

• Taxes
• Bed
• Debt

Most people do not go to the dentist until they have a toothache; most societies do not reform abuses until the victims begin to make life uncomfortable for others.

Charles Issawi

• Uncomfortable
• Reform
• Victims

Path of Progress: A shortcut is the longest distance between two points.

Charles Issawi

• Progress
• Distance
• Points

Factor of Error: Experts in advanced countries underestimate by a factor of 2 to 4 the ability of people in underdeveloped countries to do anything technical. (Examples: Japanese on warplanes, Russians on the bomb, Iranians on refineries, etc.)

Charles Issawi

• Ability
• Underestimate
• Factor

Most things get steadily worse.

Charles Issawi

• Things
• Get
• Worse

Petroleum, Law of: Where there are Muslims, there is oil; the converse is not true.

Charles Issawi

• Law
• Oil
• Muslims