# American Competence **Domain:** Preparation / Institutions / Results **Series:** [[american/American Ethos - Simple Reminders on Real American Pride|Simple Reminders on Real American Pride]] ## Definition American competence is the discipline of making intention operational. It joins self-examination to preparation, planning to adaptation, and authority to accountability; the result matters because institutions are finally judged by what they can make work under pressure. Slogans cannot substitute for foundations, and confidence cannot substitute for practiced ability. The Langley-Armonk standard recognizes competence as a form of courtesy, since prepared people do not make others carry the cost of their disorder. Excellence is quiet because the system itself supplies the evidence. ## Place in the American System This node belongs to [[collections/American|the American Collection]] and interprets [[american/American Character - Value 02 - Competence|Competence]] and [[american/American Ethos - Operational Literacy|Operational Literacy]]. Its quotations remain sourced and editorially explained in [[american/American Ethos - Simple Reminders on Real American Pride|Simple Reminders on Real American Pride]]; their permanent poster objects appear below. ## Simple Reminders, Quotations, and Thoughts > “The Economic Report is an opportunity for national self-examination and self-criticism.” > **— Harry S. Truman**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Competence/National Self-Examination by Harry S. Truman|National Self-Examination by Harry S. Truman]] > “One of the great mysteries in the world is the success that lies in conscientious work.” > **— Calvin Coolidge**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Competence/The Mystery of Conscientious Work by Calvin Coolidge|The Mystery of Conscientious Work by Calvin Coolidge]] > “Prosperity cannot be the concern of one party or of one group. It cannot be attained without the goodwill and the cooperation of all.” > **— Harry S. Truman**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Competence/Prosperity as Cooperative Work by Harry S. Truman|Prosperity as Cooperative Work by Harry S. Truman]] > “It is not the name of the action, but the result of the action, which is the chief concern.” > **— Calvin Coolidge**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Competence/Results Over Labels by Calvin Coolidge|Results Over Labels by Calvin Coolidge]] > “We can not permit ourselves to be narrowed and dwarfed by slogans and phrases.” > **— Calvin Coolidge**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Competence/Beyond Slogans and Phrases by Calvin Coolidge|Beyond Slogans and Phrases by Calvin Coolidge]] > “If we wish to erect new structures, we must have a definite knowledge of the old foundations.” > **— Calvin Coolidge**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Competence/Knowledge of the Foundations by Calvin Coolidge|Knowledge of the Foundations by Calvin Coolidge]] > “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” > **— Dwight D. Eisenhower**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Competence/Planning for the Unexpected by Dwight D. Eisenhower|Planning for the Unexpected by Dwight D. Eisenhower]] > “Be quick, be quiet, be on time.” > **— Clarence “Kelly” Johnson**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Competence/The Skunk Works Standard by Clarence Kelly Johnson|The Skunk Works Standard by Clarence Kelly Johnson]] > “Tough means accepting accountability.” > **— Gene Kranz**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Competence/Accountability as Toughness by Gene Kranz|Accountability as Toughness by Gene Kranz]] > “Excellence is the standard.” > **— Gene Kranz**, *Simple Reminders on Real American Pride* [[reminders/Competence/Excellence as the Standard by Gene Kranz|Excellence as the Standard by Gene Kranz]] > The NIST Engineering Laboratory states the core purpose beneath its measurement science: “To benefit society by enabling better engineering.” > > **— NIST Engineering Laboratory**, *About the Engineering Laboratory* [[reminders/Competence/Better Engineering in Service of Society by NIST Engineering Laboratory|Better Engineering in Service of Society by NIST Engineering Laboratory]] <!-- BEGIN AMERICAN SYSTEM CONNECTIONS --> ## American System Connections [[wiki/Competence|Competence]] becomes civic through [[wiki/Competence Made Visible|Competence Made Visible]] and national through [[wiki/National Capability Culture|National Capability Culture]]. [[wiki/Coalition Competence|Coalition Competence]] extends the same test to strategic alliances. <!-- END AMERICAN SYSTEM CONNECTIONS -->