Parting Thoughts

This quote was submitted by Rana Glasgal, Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Research and Decision Support at Stanford University (rana@stanford.edu). Rana writes, “I found a fun quote about planning in a speech given by Gordon K. Davies at Adelphi University in 2006, titled Higher Education as if People Matter: American Colleges and Universities in the 21st Century. Dr. Davies was channeling Yogi Berra (on purpose). I have used this statement frequently in my Reporting Strategy meetings!”

Planning is always difficult, especially when it has to do with the future.

Thanks for sending along this quotation, Rana! Here are a few more thoughts about planning:

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), General and 34th President of the United States

A common mistake people make when trying to design something foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
~ Douglas Adams (1952-2001), English writer (including The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), dramatist, and musician

You got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.
~ Yogi Berra (1925- ), Major League Baseball player and manager

Reader contributions of Parting Thoughts are most welcome. Send them to Marne Einarson (mke3@cornell.edu).