The major difference between a thing that might go wrong…
““The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair. Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless (1992)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Things that seem impossible to fail can still break, revealing hidden vulnerabilities.
In simple terms: Even “impossible” things can fail unexpectedly.
Key Takeaway
Plan for unexpected failures.
Themes
risk
failure
resilience
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
technical
practical
When to use this quote
- software development
- project management
Key Concepts
systems design
contingency planning
probability theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you test “fail‑proof” systems?
- What backups are in place?
A Different Perspective
Overconfidence can blind to risk.