--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On two occasions I have been asked…" description: "\"On two occasions I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able righ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/charles-babbage-8461_able_on-two-occasions-i-have-been-asked-pray_2641048.png" --- # On two occasions I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if… ![“On two occasions I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.” quote by Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/charles-babbage-8461_able_on-two-occasions-i-have-been-asked-pray_2641048.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/charles-babbage-8461_able_on-two-occasions-i-have-been-asked-pray_2641048.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/charles-babbage-8461_able_on-two-occasions-i-have-been-asked-pray_2641048.png) > “On two occasions I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able rightly to 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. Incorrect data input leads to unreliable outputs; the machine cannot correct fundamentally flawed information. **In simple terms:** Wrong input yields wrong output. Key Takeaway Ensure data accuracy before processing. Themes accuracy logic technology Mood cautious analytical Type technical educational When to use this quote - data entry - software testing - quality control Key Concepts error propagation computational limits Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent input errors? - Do we trust machines blindly? A Different Perspective Machines cannot compensate for human error. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [ “On two occasions, I have been asked \[by members of Parliament\], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-babbage/on-two-occasions-i-have-been-asked-by-members-of-parliament-pray-mr/) [Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/) > [I've been saying all along that my biggest fear is that someone would program a machine to give a wrong answer. 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