Truth Hurts

This is my favourite quote of the year so far. It's in the running for quote of the decade.

Man is basically lazy. Innovative and complex incentive and disincentive structures must be continually created and refined to compel any desirable behavior (including the absence [of] self-destructive behavior). Excessive gaming of the system will be employed at every opportunity to avoid doing anything resembling work.

It is from a deeply entertaining selection of posts at Going Private and it is true: my only quibble is whether 'excessive' is a reasonable term for what is basically playing by the rules (albeit subverted to reflect your own selfish needs).