The person who knows "how" will always have a job. The person who knows "why" will always be his boss.

The aphorism contrasts procedural competence (“how”) with conceptual understanding (“why”). Knowing “how” suggests technical skill and the ability to execute tasks reliably—traits that make someone employable. Knowing “why” implies grasping purposes, causes, and underlying principles, which enables judgment, strategy, and the power to set direction rather than merely follow it. The quote therefore elevates critical thinking and systems-level understanding as the basis of leadership and authority. It also carries an implicit warning: workers who only master technique may remain dependent on others for meaning and priorities, while those who can explain and justify aims are positioned to manage, innovate, and supervise.