Wherever I'm going, I'll be there to apply the formula…
““Wherever I'm going, I'll be there to apply the formula. I'll keep the secret intact. It's simple arithmetic. It's a story problem. If a new car built by my company leaves Chicago traveling west at 60 miles per hour, and the rear differential locks up, and the car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside, does my company initiate a recall? You take the population of vehicles in the field (A) and multiple it by the probable rate of failure (B), then multiply the result by the average cost of an out-of-court settlement (C). A times B times C equals X. This is what it will cost if we don't initiate a recall. If X is greater than the cost of a recall, we recall the cars and no one gets hurt. If X is less than the cost of a recall, then we don't recall.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A cynical cost model treats human lives as numbers, suggesting recalls should be decided by cost‑benefit analysis rather than ethics.
In simple terms: Recall decisions reduced to arithmetic, ignoring moral value.
Key Takeaway
Consider ethical implications beyond pure cost.
Themes
ethics
corporate responsibility
risk management
cost‑benefit analysis
Mood
critical
provocative
Type
philosophical
satirical
When to use this quote
- automotive industry
- regulatory bodies
- corporate governance
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
business ethics
decision theory
risk assessment
public safety
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever justifiable to prioritize profit over safety?
- How should companies weigh ethical duties against financial costs?
A Different Perspective
Numbers cannot capture human suffering.