I always liked this assertion, and

I always liked this assertion, and have probably quoted it once or twice. But, to be perfectly frank, I had never used it very confidently. It always seemed so contrary to the prevailing business culture of the moment (where the highest end of business seems to be cost cutting) that to use it seemed more like a deliberate provocation than a seriously held point of view. But, as I shall explain, it is a serious assertion.