---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If something doesn't work, it becomes…"
description: "\"If something doesn't work, it becomes obvious immediately. This just isn't going to work.\" — Jerry Garcia"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/jerry-garcia-2346_going-to-work_if-something-doesn-t-work-it-becomes-obv_2338188.jpg"
---

#  If something doesn't work, it becomes obvious immediately…

![“If something doesn't work, it becomes obvious immediately. This just isn't going to work.” quote by Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/jerry-garcia-2346_going-to-work_if-something-doesn-t-work-it-becomes-obv_2338188.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/jerry-garcia-2346_going-to-work_if-something-doesn-t-work-it-becomes-obv_2338188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/jerry-garcia-2346_going-to-work_if-something-doesn-t-work-it-becomes-obv_2338188.jpg)

> “If something doesn't work, it becomes obvious immediately. This just isn't going to work.”

[Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When something fails, its failure becomes immediately clear, indicating it won’t work.

**In simple terms:** Failure is obvious right away.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and discard ineffective approaches quickly.

Themes

failure clarity efficiency

Mood

pragmatic direct

Type

process personal

When to use this quote

- product development
- software debugging
- creative projects

Key Concepts

diagnosis iteration learning

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you decide when to persist?
- What signs indicate a need to pivot?

A Different Perspective

May miss hidden potential in early failures.

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[Doesn Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-work/) [Going to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-work/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Immediately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immediately/) [Obvious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obvious/) [Obvious Immediately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obvious-immediately-5650181/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Work Obvious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-obvious-5650182/) [Working it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-it/)

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> [I have a theory about marriage, Monsieur Boustouler. And it's that nearly always you will know within two weeks if it's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-have-a-theory-about-marriage-monsieur-boustouler-and-it-s-that/)

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[Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/)

## More by Jerry Garcia

> [once in awhile you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look it right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/once-in-awhile-you-get-shown-the-light-in-the-strangest-of-places-if/)

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> [To me, that's the key thing, the pursuit of happiness. That's the basic, ultimate freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/to-me-that-s-the-key-thing-the-pursuit-of-happiness-that-s-the-basic/)

[Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/)

> [“A leaf of all colors plays a golden-string fiddle To a double-e waterfall over my back”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/a-leaf-of-all-colors-plays-a-golden-string-fiddle-to-a-double-e/)

[Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/)

> [Some things may work, but they definitely won't work every time. Some things may work at various times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/some-things-may-work-but-they-definitely-won-t-work-every-time-some/)

[Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/)

> [It's odd that there is a high level of appreciation of nature. There is the aesthetic side that really loves nature and beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/it-s-odd-that-there-is-a-high-level-of-appreciation-of-nature-there/)

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[Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/)

> [You have to be ready, and also you have to discard notions that are fondly held by a lot of musicians, about sequences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/you-have-to-be-ready-and-also-you-have-to-discard-notions-that-are/)

[Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/)

> [If you are picking the lesser of two evils, you are still picking Evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/if-you-are-picking-the-lesser-of-two-evils-you-are-still-picking-evil/)

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> [Nothing left to do but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/nothing-left-to-do-but-smile/)

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