--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Engineers don't have that sixth sense…" description: "\"Engineers don't have that sixth sense where we can just toss in things here and there like many chefs.\" — Alvin Leung" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/alvin-leung-5636_chefs_engineers-don-t-have-that-sixth-sense-wh_2976450.jpg" --- # Engineers don't have that sixth sense where we can just… ![“Engineers don't have that sixth sense where we can just toss in things here and there like many chefs.” quote by Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/alvin-leung-5636_chefs_engineers-don-t-have-that-sixth-sense-wh_2976450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/alvin-leung-5636_chefs_engineers-don-t-have-that-sixth-sense-wh_2976450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/alvin-leung-5636_chefs_engineers-don-t-have-that-sixth-sense-wh_2976450.jpg) > “Engineers don't have that sixth sense where we can just toss in things here and there like many chefs.” [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Engineers lack the intuitive improvisation chefs have, needing systematic design over ad‑hoc tweaks. **In simple terms:** Engineers rely on systematic design, not improvisation. Key Takeaway Apply structured problem‑solving. Themes engineering creativity methodology Mood analytical inquisitive Type practical philosophical When to use this quote - product development - software coding - architectural planning Key Concepts design thinking systems engineering Questions to Reflect On - How can engineers foster creativity? - When is improvisation useful? A Different Perspective May undervalue spontaneous innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chefs/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Sixth sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sixth-sense/) ## Related quotes > [I kind of think of engineering like the chefs at a restaurant. Nobody's going to deny chefs are integrally important, but there's also so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-silbermann/i-kind-of-think-of-engineering-like-the-chefs-at-a-restaurant-nobody/) [Ben Silbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-silbermann/) > [Engineers don't get drafted to certain companies. That's kind of peculiar in the capitalistic ways of the United States. But that's how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-burrow/engineers-don-t-get-drafted-to-certain-companies-that-s-kind-of/) [Joe Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-burrow/) > [A lot of writers and artists are like chefs who eat their own cooking in the kitchen and then deliver an empty plate with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/a-lot-of-writers-and-artists-are-like-chefs-who-eat-their-own-cooking-2/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [“I didn't want to be a chef: just a cook. And my experiences in Italy had taught me why. For millennia, people have known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-buford/i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-chef-just-a-cook-and-my-experiences-in-italy/) [Bill Buford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-buford/) > [A lot of writers and artists are like chefs who eat their own cooking in the kitchen and then deliver an empty plate with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-santlofer/a-lot-of-writers-and-artists-are-like-chefs-who-eat-their-own-cooking/) [Jonathan Santlofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-santlofer/) > [Strange people like chefs, musicians, and politicians affect me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-flemyng/strange-people-like-chefs-musicians-and-politicians-affect-me/) [Jason Flemyng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-flemyng/) > [In my early days, I copied the great French chefs, like most chefs do. Copying is not bad. Copying and not recognizing that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/in-my-early-days-i-copied-the-great-french-chefs-like-most-chefs-do/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [I go to the fanciest restaurants in the world and try them out. I like to see these chefs that are wizards do their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-go-to-the-fanciest-restaurants-in-the-world-and-try-them-out-i-like/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [Anybody can cook for chefs. I cooked for a three Michelin star chef when I was cooking at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/anybody-can-cook-for-chefs-i-cooked-for-a-three-michelin-star-chef/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [Engineers are very logical and everything has to be tested so when we fail, we'll know why and how to improve things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/engineers-are-very-logical-and-everything-has-to-be-tested-so-when-we/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [Of course, I have given my engineers some headaches over the years, but they go with me. I have always wanted my buildings to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/of-course-i-have-given-my-engineers-some-headaches-over-the-years-but/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [“neighborhood was filled with engineers from Hewlett-Packard, then as now one of”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/neighborhood-was-filled-with-engineers-from-hewlett-packard-then-as/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [ \[An engineer's\] invention causes things to come into existence from ideas, makes world conform to thought; whereas science, by deriving ideas from observation, makes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-mitcham/an-engineer-s-invention-causes-things-to-come-into-existence-from/) Carl Mitcham > [It is a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-a-great-profession-there-is-the-fascination-of-watching-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Design is all about relationships. Unfortunately, many designers don’t fully appreciate this. Some of the best design work I’ve ever done was drinking coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-burka/design-is-all-about-relationships-unfortunately-many-designers-don-t/) Daniel Burka ## More by Alvin Leung > [You have to be confident to be successful... I am somewhat confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/you-have-to-be-confident-to-be-successful-i-am-somewhat-confident/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [When I'm in the moment, I'm in the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/when-i-m-in-the-moment-i-m-in-the-moment/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [I loved Batman as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/i-loved-batman-as-a-kid/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [The core of who I am is Canadian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/the-core-of-who-i-am-is-canadian/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [I don't sleep. I have a notepad next to my bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/i-don-t-sleep-i-have-a-notepad-next-to-my-bed/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [If you only use rich and luxurious ingredients, you end up with excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/if-you-only-use-rich-and-luxurious-ingredients-you-end-up-with-excess/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [I don't like it when people tell me I'm wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/i-don-t-like-it-when-people-tell-me-i-m-wrong/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [Lowbrow ingredients don't equal inexpensive or not tasty food. In fact, it requires even more skill to make something simple into something spectacular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/lowbrow-ingredients-don-t-equal-inexpensive-or-not-tasty-food-in-fact/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [I can't remember a dish my mother made that to me was pleasant. To this day I have a phobia of instant noodles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/i-can-t-remember-a-dish-my-mother-made-that-to-me-was-pleasant-to/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [I travel on 150 flights a year; I am everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/i-travel-on-150-flights-a-year-i-am-everywhere/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [Chinese parents always think you can do better. But it comes from wanting you to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/chinese-parents-always-think-you-can-do-better-but-it-comes-from/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [When I first got two stars, I didn't think I deserved it. Now I have three I think I am worthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/when-i-first-got-two-stars-i-didn-t-think-i-deserved-it-now-i-have/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [A lot of people who come to my restaurant bring their parents over because it brings back good memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/a-lot-of-people-who-come-to-my-restaurant-bring-their-parents-over/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [There are never enough minutes in the day for what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/there-are-never-enough-minutes-in-the-day-for-what-i-want-to-do/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [The stock from a pigeon is unique. It's much better than quail or duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/the-stock-from-a-pigeon-is-unique-it-s-much-better-than-quail-or-duck/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) [Explore all 100 Alvin Leung quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) ## More Chefs quotes > [“Fortunately, I knew the cardinal rule of getting on with one’s fellow cooks. It applies in any kitchen and can be summed up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-p-pin/fortunately-i-knew-the-cardinal-rule-of-getting-on-with-one-s-fellow/) [Jacques Pépin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-p-pin/) > [I take apart restaurant menus everywhere I go. I kind of tick off a lot of chefs in restaurants because I'll say, 'You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-williams/i-take-apart-restaurant-menus-everywhere-i-go-i-kind-of-tick-off-a/) [Montel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-williams/) > [You look at most of these 'best chef' lists, and there are about nine male chefs and one woman chef. The problem is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-crenn/you-look-at-most-of-these-best-chef-lists-and-there-are-about-nine/) [Dominique Crenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-crenn/) > [Writing is getting killed by too many chefs. Back in the Bogart days, it started with great scripts. You had a writer, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/writing-is-getting-killed-by-too-many-chefs-back-in-the-bogart-days/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [Chefs are at the end of a long chain of individuals who work hard to feed people. Farmers, beekeepers, bakers, scientists, fishermen, grocers, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/chefs-are-at-the-end-of-a-long-chain-of-individuals-who-work-hard-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I don't believe in twisting yourself into knots of excuses and explanations over the food you make. When one's hostess starts in with self-deprecations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/i-don-t-believe-in-twisting-yourself-into-knots-of-excuses-and/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [First of all, when you build a restaurant of that phenomenon-I really hate that word "set" and I hate the word "cast" -it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-ramsay/first-of-all-when-you-build-a-restaurant-of-that-phenomenon-i-really/) [Gordon Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-ramsay/) > [Cooking was taken with such seriousness in France that even ordinary chefs were proud of their profession. That's what appealed to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/cooking-was-taken-with-such-seriousness-in-france-that-even-ordinary/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [“I cooked with so many of the greats: Tom Colicchio, Eric Ripert, Wylie Dufresne, Grant Achatz. Rick Bayless taught me not one but two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/i-cooked-with-so-many-of-the-greats-tom-colicchio-eric-ripert-wylie/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [The food being presented at the most expensive restaurants, by the most sophisticated chefs, was not always recognizable as food to the diner -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/the-food-being-presented-at-the-most-expensive-restaurants-by-the/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [There really is a camaraderie among chefs and a willingness to help out whenever we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocco-dispirito/there-really-is-a-camaraderie-among-chefs-and-a-willingness-to-help/) [Rocco DiSpirito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocco-dispirito/) > [I think a lot of chefs can definitely think about great flavor combinations and stuff, but then they'll pass it along to their pastry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-izard/i-think-a-lot-of-chefs-can-definitely-think-about-great-flavor/) [Stephanie Izard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-izard/) > [Chefs become attracted to being able to get product and then clientele - those are the two things that attract you as a chef.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mina/chefs-become-attracted-to-being-able-to-get-product-and-then/) [Michael Mina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mina/) > [I remember in the first season going, 'This is retarded. I can't believe they're making chefs do this.' But then it actually does show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/i-remember-in-the-first-season-going-this-is-retarded-i-can-t-believe/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [The level of competition on 'Iron Chef' was very intense. In fact, I feel like the show provides chefs with a stamp of approval…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maneet-chauhan/the-level-of-competition-on-iron-chef-was-very-intense-in-fact-i-feel/) [Maneet Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maneet-chauhan/) [Browse all 206 Chefs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chefs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Engineers don't have that sixth sense where we can just toss in things here and there like many chefs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alvin Leung" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/engineers-don-t-have-that-sixth-sense-where-we-can-just-toss-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chefs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/engineers-don-t-have-that-sixth-sense-where-we-can-just-toss-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/alvin-leung-5636_chefs_engineers-don-t-have-that-sixth-sense-wh_2976450.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/alvin-leung-5636_chefs_engineers-don-t-have-that-sixth-sense-wh_2976450.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/alvin-leung-5636_chefs_engineers-don-t-have-that-sixth-sense-wh_2976450.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Engineers don't have that sixth sense where we can just toss in things here and there like many chefs.” — Alvin Leung", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alvin Leung", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Engineers don't have that sixth sense...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/engineers-don-t-have-that-sixth-sense-where-we-can-just-toss-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/engineers-don-t-have-that-sixth-sense-where-we-can-just-toss-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```