This quote, “Incidents should not govern policy; but, policy incidents” by Napoleon Bonaparte, emphasizes the importance of having a clear, overarching strategy or policy that guides actions and decisions, rather than allowing isolated incidents to dictate the course of action. It suggests that a well-thought-out policy or plan should be the driving force behind actions and decisions, rather than reactions to individual incidents.
In essence, Bonaparte is advocating for proactive, rather than reactive, governance. Instead of allowing individual incidents or events to dictate policy changes, he argues that these incidents should be managed within the framework of existing policies. This approach ensures consistency and stability, as policies are typically developed with long-term goals and objectives in mind, whereas incidents are often unpredictable and transient.
Applying this idea to today’s world, it could be argued that governments and organizations should not change their policies or strategies in response to every new incident or crisis that arises. Instead, they should have robust and flexible policies in place that can accommodate and effectively manage such incidents. For instance, in the face of a public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than constantly changing policies in response to every new development, governments should ideally have comprehensive public health policies in place that can guide their response to such crises.
In terms of personal development, this quote could be interpreted as a reminder to not let setbacks or failures dictate your overall strategy or approach to life. Instead of changing your goals or plans in response to every setback, you should ideally have a clear vision and plan for your life that can guide your response to these setbacks. This approach can help you maintain focus and consistency in your actions, even in the face of adversity.
