--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On two occasions, I have been asked [by…" description: "\"“On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/charles-babbage-8461_computers_on-two-occasions-i-have-been-asked-by-me_2759081.png" --- # On two occasions, I have been asked \[by members of… ![“On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.” quote by Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/charles-babbage-8461_computers_on-two-occasions-i-have-been-asked-by-me_2759081.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/charles-babbage-8461_computers_on-two-occasions-i-have-been-asked-by-me_2759081.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/charles-babbage-8461_computers_on-two-occasions-i-have-been-asked-by-me_2759081.png) > ““On two occasions, I have been asked \[by members of Parliament\], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.”” [Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning the reliability of computation when input data are erroneous. **In simple terms:** Wrong data yields wrong results. Key Takeaway Validate inputs before processing. Themes technology accuracy logic Mood cautious analytical Type technical reflective When to use this quote - software development - data entry - scientific research - financial modeling Key Concepts error propagation computational theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure data integrity? - What safeguards can prevent garbage-in‑garbage-out? A Different Perspective Assumes machines can correct human mistakes, which they cannot. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) ## Related quotes > [On two occasions I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-babbage/on-two-occasions-i-have-been-asked-pray-mr-babbage-if-you-put-into/) [Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/) > [“I think it's more accurate to think of aesthetics as a key ingredient in a recipe, as opposed to the icing on the cake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-p-anderson/i-think-it-s-more-accurate-to-think-of-aesthetics-as-a-key-ingredient/) Stephen P. 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