What was amazing was that a large team of highly…
““What was amazing was that a large team of highly intelligent programmers could labor so hard and so long on such an unpromising project. You know, you shouldn’t trust us intelligent programmers. We can think up such good arguments for convincing ourselves and each other of the utterly absurd. Especially don’t believe us when we promise to repeat an earlier success, only bigger and better next time.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Programmers can rationalize absurd projects and overpromise future success.
In simple terms: Tech teams may convince themselves of unrealistic goals.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions, set realistic goals.
Themes
overconfidence
project optimism
software development
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
critical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- product planning
- startup pitches
- innovation labs
Key Concepts
risk assessment
team dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How to balance optimism with realism?
- What checks prevent overpromising?
A Different Perspective
May discourage bold experimentation.