--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What was amazing was that a large team of…" description: "\"“What was amazing was that a large team of highly intelligent programmers could labor so hard and so long on such an unpromising project. You know, you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/781/anonymous-1_bigger-and-better_what-was-amazing-was-that-a-large-team-o_3042004.jpg" --- # What was amazing was that a large team of highly… ![“What was amazing was that a large team of highly intelligent programmers could labor so hard and so long on such an unpromising project. You know, you shouldn’t trust us intelligent programmers. We can think up such good arguments for convincing ourselves and each other of the utterly absurd…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/781/anonymous-1_bigger-and-better_what-was-amazing-was-that-a-large-team-o_3042004.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/781/anonymous-1_bigger-and-better_what-was-amazing-was-that-a-large-team-o_3042004.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/781/anonymous-1_bigger-and-better_what-was-amazing-was-that-a-large-team-o_3042004.jpg) > ““What was amazing was that a large team of highly intelligent programmers could labor so hard and so long on such an unpromising project. You know, you shouldn’t trust us intelligent programmers. We can think up such good arguments for convincing ourselves and each other of the utterly absurd. Especially don’t believe us when we promise to repeat an earlier success, only bigger and better next time.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Programmers can rationalize absurd projects and overpromise future success. **In simple terms:** Tech teams may convince themselves of unrealistic goals. Key Takeaway Question assumptions, set realistic goals. Themes overconfidence project optimism software development Mood skeptical analytical Type critical cautionary When to use this quote - product planning - startup pitches - innovation labs Key Concepts risk assessment team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How to balance optimism with realism? - What checks prevent overpromising? A Different Perspective May discourage bold experimentation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Next Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-next-time/) [Bigger and better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger-and-better/) [Highly intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highly-intelligent/) [Intelligent Programmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-programmers-5019981/) [Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/) [Programmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programmers/) [Programmers Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programmers-think-4188494/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Trust Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-intelligent-5019983/) [Unpromising Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpromising-project-5019982/) ## Related quotes > [“Master programmers think of systems as stories to be told rather than programs to be written.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-martin/master-programmers-think-of-systems-as-stories-to-be-told-rather-than/) [Robert C. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-martin/) > [There is no point in being angry at yourself for a mistake unless you combine it with a resolve to do better next time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-point-in-being-angry-at-yourself-for-a-mistake-unless-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am very sorry for disappointing you. I'll do better next time. Just tell me how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-very-sorry-for-disappointing-you-i-ll-do-better-next-time-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You never know what you have until you lose it, and once you lose it, you can never get it back.My heart was taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-never-know-what-you-have-until-you-lose-it-and-once-you-lose-it-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Making mistakes is not a big failure. It's just human nature. The key is to learn from it so you can do better next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/making-mistakes-is-not-a-big-failure-it-s-just-human-nature-the-key/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ive made mistakes in my life. Ive let people take advantage of me, and I accepted way less than I deserve, but Ive learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ive-made-mistakes-in-my-life-ive-let-people-take-advantage-of-me-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you give it your best shot and you miss, it's not seen as a failure. Instead, it's just another opportunity to step up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-give-it-your-best-shot-and-you-miss-it-s-not-seen-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I should emphasize this, to keep well-meaning but misguided multiculturalists at bay: the theoretical entities in which these tribal people frankly believe — the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-should-emphasize-this-to-keep-well-meaning-but-misguided/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Â¥ Of course, you're going to get your heart broken. And it isn't just going to happen once, but a lot. That's just part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/of-course-you-re-going-to-get-your-heart-broken-and-it-isn-t-just-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've made mistakes in my life. I've let people take advantage of me. and I've accepted way less than I deserve. But, I've learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-made-mistakes-in-my-life-i-ve-let-people-take-advantage-of-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stop holding grudges. Don't live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-holding-grudges-don-t-live-your-life-with-hate-in-your-heart-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I embrace the pain I feel, not to feel better but to know better next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-embrace-the-pain-i-feel-not-to-feel-better-but-to-know-better-next/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Austrian writer Robert Musil summed up the Fanatic's great rhetorical advantage in just ten words: There is no truth which stupidity can't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/the-austrian-writer-robert-musil-summed-up-the-fanatic-s-great/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [Hillary Clinton's a highly intelligent woman, hard-working, she's dedicated her life to public service, but unfortunately, she does not have a track record of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/hillary-clinton-s-a-highly-intelligent-woman-hard-working-she-s/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [ \[About Pierre de Fermat\] It cannot be denied that he has had many exceptional ideas, and that he is a highly intelligent man. For… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/about-pierre-de-fermat-it-cannot-be-denied-that-he-has-had-many/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Bigger and better quotes > [“Oh, nothing. Only you really did help them, you know.” “Who?” “All the men who’ve come through this House. You helped them find their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-wecker/oh-nothing-only-you-really-did-help-them-you-know-who-all-the-men-who/) [Helene Wecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-wecker/) > [We might make money and be in the careers we're in, but we don't need a bunch of stuff. We like showcasing that and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-bella/we-might-make-money-and-be-in-the-careers-we-re-in-but-we-don-t-need/) [Brie Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-bella/) > [“You’ve come to this juncture in your life, merely because something in you kept saying, “You deserve to be happy.” You were born to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/you-ve-come-to-this-juncture-in-your-life-merely-because-something-in/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [“Have fun in everything you do. Challenge yourself to bigger and better things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/have-fun-in-everything-you-do-challenge-yourself-to-bigger-and-better/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [I've definitely become smuttier. When I first started out, I had these aspirations: 'I'm not going to do jokes about anything crude because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-whitehall/i-ve-definitely-become-smuttier-when-i-first-started-out-i-had-these/) [Jack Whitehall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-whitehall/) > [Eventually I booked a 2-line role on a show called 'JAG' and slowly the parts got bigger and better. I'm very thankful that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-witwer/eventually-i-booked-a-2-line-role-on-a-show-called-jag-and-slowly-the/) [Samuel Witwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-witwer/) > [“I wonder how many people, just like David, have been anointed to do something great in life, to be in a position of leadership,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-wonder-how-many-people-just-like-david-have-been-anointed-to-do/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [We singer-songwriter people, we're used to getting up and doing our own thing in front of people, and we're it. We're the band, artist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-wilkinson/we-singer-songwriter-people-we-re-used-to-getting-up-and-doing-our/) [Andy Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-wilkinson/) > [“If a free people is going to be reproduced, it will require watering and revivifying and owning anew older traditions and awaking the curiosity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sasse/if-a-free-people-is-going-to-be-reproduced-it-will-require-watering/) [Ben Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sasse/) > [“When I face an obsticle that it seem I can't overcome I tell myself it's God's way of telling me to move on becase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiree-mccarver/when-i-face-an-obsticle-that-it-seem-i-can-t-overcome-i-tell-myself/) [Shiree McCarver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiree-mccarver/) > [“If there’s one thing you learn from me, after hearing about just under one year of my life can it be that you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-seeley/if-there-s-one-thing-you-learn-from-me-after-hearing-about-just-under/) [R.J. Seeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-seeley/) > [If you're going to take away our sponsors, why not bump it up to $100,000 for a fight bonus? Let us scrap it out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stephens/if-you-re-going-to-take-away-our-sponsors-why-not-bump-it-up-to-100/) [Jeremy Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stephens/) > [I still want to put together bigger and better programs to work with the community. I still think I could do better on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-still-want-to-put-together-bigger-and-better-programs-to-work-with/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [“The next day was a dream of such perfection that I have never approached the like again. It was, of course, all illusion, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/the-next-day-was-a-dream-of-such-perfection-that-i-have-never/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [My goal every year is to be bigger and better than I was the year before. The competition just keeps getting better, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-heath/my-goal-every-year-is-to-be-bigger-and-better-than-i-was-the-year/) [Phil Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-heath/) [Browse all 164 Bigger and better quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger-and-better/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What was amazing was that a large team of highly intelligent programmers could labor so hard and so long on such an unpromising project. You know, you shouldn’t trust us intelligent programmers. We can think up such good arguments for convincing ourselves and each other of the utterly absurd. 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