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Anybody who's spent any time with machines at all,' he…

“Anybody who's spent any time with machines at all,' he added, 'and baby, that's us all, knows first and foremost there's only one thing certain about them, computer or bicycle. They go wrong.” quote by Salman Rushdie
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““Anybody who's spent any time with machines at all,' he added, 'and baby, that's us all, knows first and foremost there's only one thing certain about them, computer or bicycle. They go wrong.””

Salman Rushdie

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Machines, like bicycles, are prone to failure; we must accept imperfection.

In simple terms: All tools can malfunction.

Key Takeaway

Expect and plan for failures.

Themes

technology humanity fragility

Mood

cautious realistic

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • software development
  • transport planning
  • everyday tech use
  • maintenance routines

Key Concepts

system reliability human‑machine interaction

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance trust and caution with technology?
  • What strategies reduce impact of inevitable failures?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on failure can breed distrust in useful tools.

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