Counterproductive Quotes

I think most people don't react well to being screamed at. It's counterproductive.

Dick Wolf

Thinking, People, Wells

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It's counterproductive and self-destructive to bear grudges with people that are negative.

Carl Froch

Motivation, Self, People

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'Efficient' scheduling and control of time are often counterproductive. The efficiency focus creates expectations that clash with the opportunities to develop rich relationships, to meet human needs, and to enjoy spontaneous moments on a daily basis.

Stephen Covey

Opportunity, Expectations, Focus

Stephen R. Covey (2016). “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change”, p.184, Mango Media Inc.

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Any debate among politicians about monetary policy is counterproductive.

Gerhard Schroder

Debate, Politician, Monetary Policy

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Certainly, the Bush Administration will rely in the first instance on its friends, since it would be both illogical and counterproductive to reward its adversaries.

Richard V. Allen

Would Be, Rewards, Firsts

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I never had a policy about marriage. I got married very young in life and I always think in all relationships, I've always thought that it's counterproductive to have a theory on that.

Jack Nicholson

Marriage, Thinking, Married

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A total nuclear freeze is counterproductive - especially now, when technology is rapidly changing and the Soviets have some important strategic advantages.

Herman Kahn

Technology, Important, Nuclear

Herman Kahn (1985). “Thinking Unth 80SP”, p.26, Simon and Schuster

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Today, the world is so small and so interdependent that the concept of war has become anachronistic, an outmoded approach. As a rule, we always talk about reform and changes. Among the old traditions, there are many aspects that are either ill-suited to our present reality or are counterproductive due to their shortsightedness. These, we have consigned to the dustbin of history. War too should be relegated to the dustbin of history.

Dalai Lama

Peace, War, Reality

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What I do know is that drones are a modern weapon. When used effectively, when taking out ISIS or terrorist leaders, that's pretty impressive. When bombing wedding parties of innocent people and killing dozens of them, that is, needless to say, not effective and enormously counterproductive. So whatever the mechanism, whoever is in control of that policy, it has to be refined so that we are killing the people we want to kill and not innocent collateral damage.

Bernie Sanders

Party, Isis, People

Interview with the Daily News Editorial Board, www.nydailynews.com. April 1, 2016.

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Slowing down doesn't mean accomplishing less; it means cutting out counterproductive distractions and the perception of being rushed.

Tim Ferriss

Motivational, Mean, Cutting

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I would need to see changes in the Iraq governance. Otherwise I don't think strikes are going to have any impact and could be very well counterproductive.

Adam Schiff

Military, Thinking, Iraq

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Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.

Thomas Sowell

People, Important, Fabric

Thomas Sowell (2006). “Ever Wonder Why? and Other Controversial Essays”, Hoover Inst Press

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The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion. However valuable-even necessary-that may have been in enforcing good behavior on primitive peoples, their association is now counterproductive. Yet at the very moment when they should be decoupled, sanctimonious nitwits are calling for a return to morals based on superstition.

Arthur C. Clarke

Tragedy, Calling, Hijacking

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Life teaches us that human thought almost never walks hand in hand with logic, and it is usually counterproductive to raise the point.

Jeff Lindsay

Hands, Logic, Teach

Jeff Lindsay (2013). “Dexter's Final Cut: Dexter Morgan (7)”, p.22, Vintage Crime/Black Lizard

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Never say anything about a person you wouldn't say to them directly, and don't try people without accusing them to their face. Badmouthing people behind their backs shows a serious lack of integrity and is counterproductive. It doesn't yield any beneficial change, and it subverts both the people you are badmouthing and the environment as a whole.

Ray Dalio

Life, Integrity, Yield

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In the hyper-sensitised reality of the region in which any criticism of Israel is swiftly and often unfairly branded as anti-Semitic, it can become counterproductive to inflame rather than explain and this means to hear the narratives of both sides, to articulate the suffering on both sides, not just the Palestinians.

Jane Fonda

Mean, Reality, Israel

"Jane Fonda apologises over Toronto petition" by Ben Child, www.theguardian.com. September 15, 2009.

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To think that we are disconnected in some way serves the occupation whether it's through indifference or a distancing. It is a colonial approach of making you a subject and them the spectators. That is disturbing and counterproductive. And then suddenly they are surprised or find it alienating that the microcosmic effects of Palestine are happening in the U.S., France, and England, whether it's from the Islamic movements or immigration factors. Keeping a false purity of their countries will harm them eventually.

Elia Suleiman

Country, Islamic, Thinking

Source: www.guernicamag.com

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Absolutely. Regret is counterproductive. It's looking back on a past that you can't change. Questioning things as they occur can prevent regret in the future. I questioned a lot about my relationship with your father. People make spontaneous decisions based off of their hearts all the time. There's so much more to relationships than just love.

Colleen Hoover

Regret, Father, Heart

Colleen Hoover (2012). “Slammed”, p.29, Simon and Schuster

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Unbounded morality ultimately becomes counterproductive even in terms of the same moral principles being sought. The law of diminishing returns applies to morality.

Thomas Sowell

Law, Principles, Return

Thomas Sowell (1996). “Knowledge And Decisions”, p.109, Basic Books

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I've found that if I tell somebody 'Eat this and don't do that,' it's not only not helpful, it's counterproductive because even more than being healthy, we want to feel free and in control, and as soon as somebody tells us to do something, there's a tendency to do just the opposite.

Dean Ornish

Opposites, Healthy, Want

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Many years spent listening to the tribulations of man have persuaded me that the satisfaction of all desires is completely counterproductive to happiness. Instant and unrestrained gratification is the shortest and most direct route to unhappiness.

James E. Faust

Men, Years, Listening

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I know that the writers I read and admire all have an influence on my work, but trying to determine to what degree any particular piece of input changes the way I think about writing seems counterproductive.

Kevin Powers

Writing, Thinking, Trying

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This modern mania for interfering in other's lives, usually under the guise of health and safety concerns, is highly irritating and counterproductive. Down with the nanny state.

Felix Dennis

Safety, Nannies, Modern

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It's counterproductive to blither on about "the" future. It's always somebody's future, and we're not who we used to be.

Bruce Sterling

Used, Used To Be

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Flaky devotionalism, bowing and scraping and sucking up to the teacher is very phony. It is counterproductive to enlightenment and spiritual development. What is necessary is mutual respect.

Frederick Lenz

Spiritual, Teacher, Buddhist

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