The great liability of the engineer compared to men of…
“The great liability of the engineer compared to men of other professions is that his works are out in the open where all can see them. His acts, step by step, are in hard substance. He cannot bury his mistakes in the grave like the doctors. He cannot argue them into thin air or blame the judge like the lawyers. He cannot, like the architects, cover his failures with trees and vines. He cannot, like the politicians, screen his shortcomings by blaming his opponents and hope the people will forget. The engineer simply cannot deny he did it. If his works do not work, he is damned...”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Engineers' work is publicly visible, making their mistakes unavoidable and accountable.
In simple terms: Engineers cannot hide errors; they are exposed.
Key Takeaway
Own and fix mistakes openly.
Themes
accountability
transparency
engineering
ethics
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- construction projects
- software development
- product design
- public infrastructure
Key Concepts
public scrutiny
error ownership
professional responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure quality before release?
- What systems can catch errors early?
A Different Perspective
Mistakes may still be costly despite openness.