--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I say this as an engineer: We are…" description: "\"I say this as an engineer: We are profoundly bad at asking ourselves how the things we build could be misused.\" — Brianna Wu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/brianna-wu-6004_bad_i-say-this-as-an-engineer-we-are-profoun_1204800.jpg" --- # I say this as an engineer: We are profoundly bad at asking… ![“I say this as an engineer: We are profoundly bad at asking ourselves how the things we build could be misused.” quote by Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/brianna-wu-6004_bad_i-say-this-as-an-engineer-we-are-profoun_1204800.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/brianna-wu-6004_bad_i-say-this-as-an-engineer-we-are-profoun_1204800.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/brianna-wu-6004_bad_i-say-this-as-an-engineer-we-are-profoun_1204800.jpg) > “I say this as an engineer: We are profoundly bad at asking ourselves how the things we build could be misused.” [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Engineers often overlook potential misuse of their creations, leading to harmful outcomes. **In simple terms:** Creators ignore possible abuse. Key Takeaway Consider misuse early in design. Themes responsibility ethics design technology Mood thoughtful concerned Type ethical practical When to use this quote - product development - policy making - public safety Key Concepts risk assessment anticipatory governance Questions to Reflect On - How can you embed misuse checks in your workflow? - What safeguards are realistic? A Different Perspective Neglecting misuse can cause unintended damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Build Misused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-misused-3627219/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Engineer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineer/) [Engineer Profoundly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineer-profoundly-3627220/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Misused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misused/) [Say Engineer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-engineer-3627221/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-build-243461/) ## Related quotes > [“Things we build ourselves, they matter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/things-we-build-ourselves-they-matter/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [Everyone dies. 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Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-f-hamilton/) > [Take responsibility for the things you build and invent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-joy/take-responsibility-for-the-things-you-build-and-invent/) [Bill Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-joy/) > [I have this desire to create things and build things, and Google has enabled me to build and create things and to build products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wojcicki/i-have-this-desire-to-create-things-and-build-things-and-google-has/) [Susan Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wojcicki/) ## More by Brianna Wu > [The BBC called me 'defiant' in a caption. 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