Skip to content

If their occupation is actual work they prefer to pump…

“If their occupation is actual work they prefer to pump water into cisterns, two of which leak through holes in the bottom and one of which is water-tight. A, of course, has the good one;” quote by Stephen Leacock
Download Open image
““If their occupation is actual work they prefer to pump water into cisterns, two of which leak through holes in the bottom and one of which is water-tight. A, of course, has the good one;””

Stephen Leacock

About This Quote

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

People often waste resources on faulty systems while the good ones go unused.

In simple terms: Wasting resources on bad systems.

Key Takeaway

Fix the good system first.

Themes

resource allocation inefficiency prioritization

Mood

irritated thoughtful

Type

satirical observational

When to use this quote

  • business operations
  • home maintenance
  • public utilities

Key Concepts

systems thinking optimization

Questions to Reflect On

  • Which system needs repair?
  • How to prioritize improvements?
A Different Perspective

Fixing one part may not solve overall problem.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Stephen Leacock

Explore all 105 Stephen Leacock quotes

More Water quotes

Browse all 11,281 Water quotes