--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better to have train wrecks with…" description: "\"“Better to have train wrecks with miniature trains than with real ones.”\" — Ed Catmull" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/ed-catmull-1553_fitness_better-to-have-train-wrecks-with-miniatu_880021.jpg" --- # Better to have train wrecks with miniature trains than… ![“Better to have train wrecks with miniature trains than with real ones.” quote by Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/ed-catmull-1553_fitness_better-to-have-train-wrecks-with-miniatu_880021.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/ed-catmull-1553_fitness_better-to-have-train-wrecks-with-miniatu_880021.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/ed-catmull-1553_fitness_better-to-have-train-wrecks-with-miniatu_880021.jpg) > ““Better to have train wrecks with miniature trains than with real ones.”” [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preferring small, controlled failures over large, catastrophic ones because they teach more safely and efficiently. **In simple terms:** Small mistakes are better than big disasters. Key Takeaway Embrace manageable risks. Themes risk management learning innovation Mood pragmatic encouraging Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - product development - creative projects - team leadership - software engineering Key Concepts failure analysis iteration design thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can you design experiments to limit downside? - What small failures have you learned from? A Different Perspective Large failures can still provide valuable lessons if managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-train-1043682/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Miniature Trains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miniature-trains-1043680/) [Real ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-ones/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) [Train wrecks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train-wrecks/) [Trains Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trains-real-1043681/) [Wrecks Miniature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrecks-miniature-1043679/) ## Related quotes > [“It's hard to use the English language. I'd rather play a tune on a horn, but I've always felt that I didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-van-vliet/it-s-hard-to-use-the-english-language-i-d-rather-play-a-tune-on-a/) [Don Van Vliet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-van-vliet/) > [I always think I need to be better than what I am. If I train twice a day, I think I need to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belal-muhammad/i-always-think-i-need-to-be-better-than-what-i-am-if-i-train-twice-a/) [Belal Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belal-muhammad/) > [I'd rather play a tune on a horn, but I've always felt that I didn't want to train myself. Because when you get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-play-a-tune-on-a-horn-but-i-ve-always-felt-that-i-didn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone's life is a train wreck. Your life happens to be a high-class train wreck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyne-daly/everyone-s-life-is-a-train-wreck-your-life-happens-to-be-a-high-class/) [Tyne Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyne-daly/) > [People always slow down for a train wreck. It's like junk food. If you don't feel good about yourself, you want to read crap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/people-always-slow-down-for-a-train-wreck-it-s-like-junk-food-if-you/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [In your life’s journey, there will be excitement and fulfillment, boredom and routine, and even the occasional train wreck… But when you have picked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-melroy/in-your-life-s-journey-there-will-be-excitement-and-fulfillment/) [Pamela Melroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-melroy/) > [I don't like to watch train wrecks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/i-don-t-like-to-watch-train-wrecks/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [I just see a huge train wreck coming down. You and I have discussed this many times, and I don't see any results yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-baucus/i-just-see-a-huge-train-wreck-coming-down-you-and-i-have-discussed/) [Max Baucus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-baucus/) > [I'm attracted to creative people and train wrecks, and there's no shortage of that in Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/i-m-attracted-to-creative-people-and-train-wrecks-and-there-s-no/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [I knew a lot of chords, but they weren't the chords that came with the melody that came with the idea I had for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-t-hall/i-knew-a-lot-of-chords-but-they-weren-t-the-chords-that-came-with-the/) [Tom T. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-t-hall/) > [I've had enough boyfriends and enough issues. I'd seen enough train wrecks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-had-enough-boyfriends-and-enough-issues-i-d-seen-enough-train/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“being together… it will never be right. Thought it sure as hell feels like it could. We’d result to train wrecks. We’d cause whirlwinds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nessie-q/being-together-it-will-never-be-right-thought-it-sure-as-hell-feels/) [Nessie Q](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nessie-q/) > [The thing about Janis is that she just looked so unique, an ugly duckling dressed as a princess, fearlessly so. Seeing her live was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/the-thing-about-janis-is-that-she-just-looked-so-unique-an-ugly/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [If it doesn't work, at least it will be an interesting train wreck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/if-it-doesn-t-work-at-least-it-will-be-an-interesting-train-wreck/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I just always wanted to sit in a casting session and see all of the train wrecks that come in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-roden/i-just-always-wanted-to-sit-in-a-casting-session-and-see-all-of-the/) [Holland Roden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-roden/) ## More by Ed Catmull > [“So I tell myself that I have time, even when I don’t. As in, ‘Okay, I’m going to proceed as if I have time—I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/so-i-tell-myself-that-i-have-time-even-when-i-don-t-as-in-okay-i-m/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“How, then, do you make failure into something people can face without fear? Part of the answer is simple: If we as leaders can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/how-then-do-you-make-failure-into-something-people-can-face-without/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Andrew Stanton says, adding that on each of his own films, he has made a point of doing this on a smaller scale, separate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/andrew-stanton-says-adding-that-on-each-of-his-own-films-he-has-made/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“This was a success in itself, but it came with an added and unexpected benefit: The act of thinking about the problem and responding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/this-was-a-success-in-itself-but-it-came-with-an-added-and-unexpected/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“This principle eludes most people, but it is critical: You are not your idea, and if you identify too closely with your ideas, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/this-principle-eludes-most-people-but-it-is-critical-you-are-not-your/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“You might say I’m an advocate for humility in leaders. But to be truly humble, those leaders must first understand how many of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/you-might-say-i-m-an-advocate-for-humility-in-leaders-but-to-be-truly/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Rejecting failure and avoiding mistakes seem like high-minded”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/rejecting-failure-and-avoiding-mistakes-seem-like-high-minded/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“The most productive creative sessions allow for the exploration of myriad trains of thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/the-most-productive-creative-sessions-allow-for-the-exploration-of/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“My rule of thumb is that any time we impose limits or procedures, we should ask how they will aid in enabling people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/my-rule-of-thumb-is-that-any-time-we-impose-limits-or-procedures-we/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Toy Story went on to become the top-grossing film of the year and would earn $358 million worldwide. But it wasn’t just the numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/toy-story-went-on-to-become-the-top-grossing-film-of-the-year-and/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“THERE IS NOTHING quite like ignorance combined with a driving need to succeed to force rapid learning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/there-is-nothing-quite-like-ignorance-combined-with-a-driving-need-to/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/what-makes-pixar-special-is-that-we-acknowledge-we-will-always-have/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Every morning, as I walk into Pixar Animation Studios—past the twenty-foot-high sculpture of Luxo Jr., our friendly desk lamp mascot, through the double doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/every-morning-as-i-walk-into-pixar-animation-studios-past-the-twenty/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/what-makes-pixar-special-is-that-we-acknowledge-we-will-always-have-2/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“I believe that managers must loosen the controls, not tighten them. They must accept risk; they must trust the people they work with and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/i-believe-that-managers-must-loosen-the-controls-not-tighten-them/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) [Explore all 226 Ed Catmull quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) ## More Fitness quotes > [I train my muscles, and I do a lot of stretching, and try to kick higher. But for me, practicing kung-fu is a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chow/i-train-my-muscles-and-i-do-a-lot-of-stretching-and-try-to-kick/) [Stephen Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chow/) > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [I always wanted to make sure that within my unit that I was never the weak person. So I made sure that my physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carmouche/i-always-wanted-to-make-sure-that-within-my-unit-that-i-was-never-the/) [Liz Carmouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carmouche/) > [“For those filled with regret, perhaps the most needful exercise of proactivity is to realize that past mistakes are also out there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-those-filled-with-regret-perhaps-the-most-needful-exercise-of/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [“He sighed. "Look, love, I know I seem like a tactical genius, but really, I'm just a magician who occasionally kills a bunny or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/he-sighed-look-love-i-know-i-seem-like-a-tactical-genius-but-really-i/) [Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/) > [There are things you can do in training like learn from the manager and talk with team-mates, but it's the game that tests you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burke/there-are-things-you-can-do-in-training-like-learn-from-the-manager/) [Oliver Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burke/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) [Browse all 13,910 Fitness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Better to have train wrecks with miniature trains than with real ones.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ed Catmull" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/better-to-have-train-wrecks-with-miniature-trains-than-with-real-ones/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fitness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/better-to-have-train-wrecks-with-miniature-trains-than-with-real-ones/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/ed-catmull-1553_fitness_better-to-have-train-wrecks-with-miniatu_880021.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/ed-catmull-1553_fitness_better-to-have-train-wrecks-with-miniatu_880021.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a33/ed-catmull-1553_fitness_better-to-have-train-wrecks-with-miniatu_880021.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Better to have train wrecks with miniature trains than with real ones.” — Ed Catmull", "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": "Ed Catmull", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Better to have train wrecks with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/better-to-have-train-wrecks-with-miniature-trains-than-with-real-ones/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/better-to-have-train-wrecks-with-miniature-trains-than-with-real-ones/#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 } } ] } ```