Ambitious Quote by Fernando J. Corbato
“Because one has to be an optimist to begin an ambitious project, it is not surprising that underestimation of completion time is the norm.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Computer Science Essays, 1975
Optimism is needed to start big projects, but it often leads to underestimating how long they’ll take.
In simple terms: Optimism starts projects; leads to time underestimation.
Key Takeaway
Plan realistically while staying optimistic.
Themes
optimism
project management
time estimation
ambition
risk
Mood
practical
analytical
Type
business
technical
When to use this quote
- software development
- entrepreneurship
- research projects
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
planning fallacy
goal setting
Questions to Reflect On
- How can teams balance optimism with realistic timelines?
- What tools improve time forecasts?
A Different Perspective
Over‑optimism can cause missed deadlines.
![“The general problem with ambitious systems is complexity. [...] it is important to emphasize the value of simplicity and elegance, for complexity has a way of compounding difficulties.” quote by Fernando J. Corbato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a99/fernando-j-corbato-42400_ambitious_the-general-problem-with-ambitious-syste_1719345.jpg)
