--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The machines that are first invented to…" description: "\"The machines that are first invented to perform any particular movement are always the most complex, and succeeding artists generally discover that, wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/adam-smith-1040_art_the-machines-that-are-first-invented-to_3210652.jpg" --- # The machines that are first invented to perform any… ![“The machines that are first invented to perform any particular movement are always the most complex, and succeeding artists generally discover that, with fewer wheels, with fewer principles of motion, than had originally been employed, the same effects may be more easily produced. The first…” quote by Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/adam-smith-1040_art_the-machines-that-are-first-invented-to_3210652.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/adam-smith-1040_art_the-machines-that-are-first-invented-to_3210652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/adam-smith-1040_art_the-machines-that-are-first-invented-to_3210652.jpg) > “The machines that are first invented to perform any particular movement are always the most complex, and succeeding artists generally discover that, with fewer wheels, with fewer principles of motion, than had originally been employed, the same effects may be more easily produced. The first systems, in the same manner, are always the most complex.” [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early designs often overcomplicate, while later versions simplify and achieve the same results more efficiently. **In simple terms:** Complex first attempts give way to simpler, more effective designs. Key Takeaway Simplify to improve. Themes innovation design efficiency Mood analytical reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - engineering projects - software development - product design - artistic creation Key Concepts systems theory iteration optimization Questions to Reflect On - Can complexity be reduced without loss? - When is simplicity preferable? A Different Perspective Simplification may sacrifice unique features. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Complexes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexes/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employed/) [Fewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fewer/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Machines Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines-invented-1207110/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Motion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion/) [Motion Originally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion-originally-5997117/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Movement Complex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement-complex-5997116/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Wheels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wheels/) ## Related quotes > [“(Some seem unaccepting of this transformation, and it indeed has been gradual. 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To complain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-liberal-reward-of-labour-therefore-as-it-is-the-affect-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [A sketch of a man facing to the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/a-sketch-of-a-man-facing-to-the-right/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/what-can-be-added-to-the-happiness-of-a-man-who-is-in-health-out-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/it-is-not-from-the-benevolence-of-the-butcher-the-brewer-or-the-baker/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [When we have read a book or poem so often that we can no longer find any amusement in reading it by ourselves, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/when-we-have-read-a-book-or-poem-so-often-that-we-can-no-longer-find/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [We are but one of the multitude, in no respect better than any other in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/we-are-but-one-of-the-multitude-in-no-respect-better-than-any-other/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) [Explore all 267 Adam Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. 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