they were carried out. He was a tyrant, not so much in the quality of the work he demanded, as in the quantity. There were some thirty horses in the yard. The head lad cared
The quote reflects on the authoritarian nature of a character who is described as a tyrant not because of the standards he set, but due to the overwhelming amount of work he required from those around him. This reveals a leadership style that prioritizes excessive demands over quality, creating a stressful work environment. The presence of thirty horses indicates a busy, perhaps chaotic, atmosphere where the head lad struggles to manage the load.
This portrayal emphasizes the challenges faced in a hierarchical setting, where the leaders exert pressure that can lead to burnout among subordinates. It highlights how a focus on quantity can undermine morale and quality of work, illustrating the negative effects of certain leadership approaches in a labor-intensive setting like a horse yard.