--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The dollar is the final term in almost…" description: "\"The dollar is the final term in almost every equation which arises in the practice of engineering in any or all of its branches, except qualifiedly as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/henry-r-towne-63820_arise_the-dollar-is-the-final-term-in-almost-e_1691856.jpg" --- # The dollar is the final term in almost every equation… ![“The dollar is the final term in almost every equation which arises in the practice of engineering in any or all of its branches, except qualifiedly as to military and naval engineering, where in some cases cost may be ignored.” quote by Henry R. Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/henry-r-towne-63820_arise_the-dollar-is-the-final-term-in-almost-e_1691856.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/henry-r-towne-63820_arise_the-dollar-is-the-final-term-in-almost-e_1691856.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/henry-r-towne-63820_arise_the-dollar-is-the-final-term-in-almost-e_1691856.jpg) > “The dollar is the final term in almost every equation which arises in the practice of engineering in any or all of its branches, except qualifiedly as to military and naval engineering, where in some cases cost may be ignored.” [Henry R. Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-towne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cost, especially monetary cost, dominates engineering decisions except in specific military contexts where other factors may outweigh it. **In simple terms:** Cost drives engineering choices. Key Takeaway Consider cost in design decisions. Themes engineering economics decision making Mood analytical pragmatic Type advice technical When to use this quote - product development - infrastructure projects - military design - resource allocation Key Concepts cost analysis budget constraints Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance cost with other priorities? - When might you deliberately ignore cost? A Different Perspective Cost isn’t the only factor; safety, ethics, and performance also matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) [Branches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/branches/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Dollar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollar/) [Dollar Final](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollar-final-1062772/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Engineering Branches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering-branches-1062773/) [Equations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equations/) [Finals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finals/) [Ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignored/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Naval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naval/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Qualified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualified/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Term Equation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-equation-1062774/) ## Related quotes > [Certainly in the United States, you have a constituency in the form of the weapons laboratories, and you also have the branches of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/certainly-in-the-united-states-you-have-a-constituency-in-the-form-of/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [However, the Kosovo War took place in orbital space. In other words, war now takes place in 'aero-electro-magnetic space'. It is equivalent to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/however-the-kosovo-war-took-place-in-orbital-space-in-other-words-war/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [Whether in peaceful trade or warlike attack, the sea unites more than it divides. Even if it were possible to treat England, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-rodger/whether-in-peaceful-trade-or-warlike-attack-the-sea-unites-more-than/) [Nicholas Rodger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-rodger/) > [The third eye is located between the eyebrows and a little above. The heart center is located directly in the center of the chest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-third-eye-is-located-between-the-eyebrows-and-a-little-above-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We know that russians are deeply engaged in supporting Assad because they want to have a place in the Middle East. They have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-know-that-russians-are-deeply-engaged-in-supporting-assad-because/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [France and Italy have not yet signed this treaty or agreed to naval limitation as between those nations, but I have confidence that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-kellogg/france-and-italy-have-not-yet-signed-this-treaty-or-agreed-to-naval/) [Frank B. Kellogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-kellogg/) > [Marines have a cynical approach to war. They believe in three things; liberty, payday and that when two Marines are together in a fight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-pyle/marines-have-a-cynical-approach-to-war-they-believe-in-three-things/) [Ernie Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-pyle/) > [The Battle for the Philippines was the greatest naval battle in history, judged in terms of the number of ships taking part, the number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hough/the-battle-for-the-philippines-was-the-greatest-naval-battle-in/) [Richard Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hough/) > [“The dangers of the sea should always take precedence over the violence of the enemy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bryant/the-dangers-of-the-sea-should-always-take-precedence-over-the/) [Ben Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bryant/) > [Medieval England was a great military power with a sophisticated machinery of government, but her naval administration, at best improvised and for long periods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-rodger/medieval-england-was-a-great-military-power-with-a-sophisticated/) [Nicholas Rodger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-rodger/) > [ Matt Lauer asked her \[Hillary Clinton\] tough questions, in fact, questions that should have been asked and followed up on by the FBI in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/matt-lauer-asked-her-hillary-clinton-tough-questions-in-fact/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Oh, I'm nerdy about science fiction and fantasy and graphic novels and reading, and I'm nerdy about board games. My favorite board game is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/oh-i-m-nerdy-about-science-fiction-and-fantasy-and-graphic-novels-and/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Naval dominance of European waters was the largest, longest, most complex and expensive project ever undertaken by the British state and society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-rodger/naval-dominance-of-european-waters-was-the-largest-longest-most/) [Nicholas Rodger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-rodger/) > [That a modern battleship of 48,000 tons would have to defend itself against wood and fabric biplanes with its main armament was a salutary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hough/that-a-modern-battleship-of-48-000-tons-would-have-to-defend-itself/) [Richard Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hough/) > [A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guaranty of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/a-good-navy-is-not-a-provocation-to-war-it-is-the-surest-guaranty-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## More by Henry R. Towne > [The monogram of our national initials, which is the symbol for our monetary unit, the dollar, is almost as frequently conjoined to the figures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-towne/the-monogram-of-our-national-initials-which-is-the-symbol-for-our/) [Henry R. Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-towne/) > [He who designs an unsafe structure or an inoperative machine is a bad Engineer; he who designs them so that they are safe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-towne/he-who-designs-an-unsafe-structure-or-an-inoperative-machine-is-a-bad/) [Henry R. Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-towne/) > [The Engineer is one who, in the world of physics and applied sciences, begets new things, or adapts old things to new and better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-towne/the-engineer-is-one-who-in-the-world-of-physics-and-applied-sciences/) [Henry R. Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-towne/) > [A railroad may have to be carried over a gorge or arroya. Obviously it does not need an Engineer to point out that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-towne/a-railroad-may-have-to-be-carried-over-a-gorge-or-arroya-obviously-it/) [Henry R. Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-towne/) [Explore all 5 Henry R. Towne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-towne/) ## More Arise quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The financial crisis we are facing today arises from the fact that there is almost no more social, cultural, natural, and spiritual capital left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/the-financial-crisis-we-are-facing-today-arises-from-the-fact-that/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Do not be satisfied with the speech of your lips and the thought in your heart, all the promises and good sayings in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-mendel-of-kotzk/do-not-be-satisfied-with-the-speech-of-your-lips-and-the-thought-in/) [Menachem Mendel of Kotzk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-mendel-of-kotzk/) > [Arise Evans had a fungous nose, and said, it was revealed to him, that the King's hand would cure him, and at the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-aubrey/arise-evans-had-a-fungous-nose-and-said-it-was-revealed-to-him-that/) [John Aubrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-aubrey/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [We need less travelling by jet plaes from congress to congress... but more kneeling and praying and pleading to God to have mercy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/we-need-less-travelling-by-jet-plaes-from-congress-to-congress-but/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [In my model, important interference phenomena arise when individual strata come into contact. These chaotic fluctuations are, I suppose, what my music is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/in-my-model-important-interference-phenomena-arise-when-individual/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [Whenever you step out of the noise of thinking, that is meditation, and a different state of consciousness arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/whenever-you-step-out-of-the-noise-of-thinking-that-is-meditation-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [An idea or institution may arise for one reason and be maintained for quite a different reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mccabe/an-idea-or-institution-may-arise-for-one-reason-and-be-maintained-for/) [Joseph McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mccabe/) > [The oppressed without hope are mysteriously quiet. When the conception of change is beyond the limits of the possible, there are no words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/the-oppressed-without-hope-are-mysteriously-quiet-when-the-conception/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [I arise full of eagerness and energy, knowing well what achievement lies ahead of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/i-arise-full-of-eagerness-and-energy-knowing-well-what-achievement/) [Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/) > [When you train your thoughts to dissolve as they arise, they will cross your mind like a bird crosses the sky--without leaving a trace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julietta-suzuki/when-you-train-your-thoughts-to-dissolve-as-they-arise-they-will/) [Julietta Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julietta-suzuki/) > [Nothing, not even the best and noblest, can go on as it now is. Nothing, not even what is lowest and most bestial, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-not-even-the-best-and-noblest-can-go-on-as-it-now-is-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So we and our elaborately evolving computers may meet each other halfway. Someday a human being, named perhaps Fred White, may shoot a robot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/so-we-and-our-elaborately-evolving-computers-may-meet-each-other/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) [Browse all 1,703 Arise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The dollar is the final term in almost every equation which arises in the practice of engineering in any or all of its branches, except qualifiedly as to military and naval engineering, where in some cases cost may be ignored.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry R. Towne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-towne/the-dollar-is-the-final-term-in-almost-every-equation-which-arises-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arise" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-towne/the-dollar-is-the-final-term-in-almost-every-equation-which-arises-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/henry-r-towne-63820_arise_the-dollar-is-the-final-term-in-almost-e_1691856.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/henry-r-towne-63820_arise_the-dollar-is-the-final-term-in-almost-e_1691856.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/henry-r-towne-63820_arise_the-dollar-is-the-final-term-in-almost-e_1691856.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The dollar is the final term in almost every equation which arises in the practice of engineering in any or…” — Henry R. Towne", "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": "Henry R. Towne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-towne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The dollar is the final term...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-towne/the-dollar-is-the-final-term-in-almost-every-equation-which-arises-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-towne/the-dollar-is-the-final-term-in-almost-every-equation-which-arises-in/#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 } } ] } ```