We trained hard... but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
A paraphrased quotation from Charlton Ogburn (1911–1998) in "Merrill's Marauders: The truth about an incredible adventure" http://www.harpers.org/archive/1957/01/0007289 in the January 1957 issue of Harper's Magazine
Actual Charlton Ogburn quote: "We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganized. Presumably the plans for our employment were being changed. I was to learn later in life that, perhaps because we are so good at organizing, we tend as a nation to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralization."
Misattributed
„Ich habe gelernt, dass der Weg des Fortschritts weder kurz noch unbeschwerlich ist.“
„Ich stoße die Verwirrung unserer Feinde an.“
„Die Sonne schien, da sie keine Wahl hatte, auf nichts Neues.“
Murphy. „Vom Verfasser autorisierte Übertragung“ aus dem Englischen. rororo Hamburg 1959 ff., S. 5. Erster Satz des Romans.
"The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new." - Murphy. Grove Press New York, 1957
