German officer promoted the lazy and feared the zealous

The problem with skepticism is it can be taken too far. When you stake out a plot of information and acquiesce to the fact that you're going to be skeptical about it, but can go on with your life: then you're working effectively. But when you start doubting, say, the veracity of your girlfriend's claim to have washed the dishes, then you might be going too far. After absorbing an internet's-worth of information, you have figure out where you can start believing again.

For example, I wanted to be skeptical about this questionable method of promoting officers, by the innovative Prussian/German Field Marshal Moltke. But there it is, among his papers from the Potsdam Heeresarchiv. I suspect the General would want to attach a few extra sheets to this criteria for choosing officers, but otherwise, it's the typical German's wet dream. Almost any German I've gotten to know would prosper under this system. (Though I heard some conservative bloggers have been discharged.)