The invention is an amplifier such as an operational amplifier having an output stage with a reduced quiescent current control transistor device area that provides sufficient quiescent current control for proper operation thereof. The output stage includes a current diverter or diverting arrangement whereby current flowing to the quiescent current control transistor area is reduced by diversion without jeopardizing the proper operation of the operational amplifier. In this manner, the relative size of the quiescent current control transistors can be significantly reduced without sacrificing any of the overall performance of the amplifier.