You want a valve that doesn't leak and you try everything…
“You want a valve that doesn't leak and you try everything possible to develop one. But the real world provides you with a leaky valve. You have to determine how much leakiness you can tolerate.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A pragmatic view on engineering limits: design for leaks, but accept the real world’s imperfections, balancing ideal and practical tolerance.
In simple terms: Design acknowledges inevitable leaks.
Determine acceptable leak tolerance.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- technical writing
- project management
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What leak level is acceptable?
- How to balance ideal vs. reality?
Complex for non‑technical readers.