Cost Quote by Kent Beck
“Of the four project development variables - scope, cost, time and quality - quality isn't really a free variable. The only possible values are "excellent" and "insanely excellent", depending on whether lives are at stake.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Extreme Programming Explained, Kent Beck, 1999
Quality cannot be compromised; it must be either excellent or insanely excellent, especially when lives depend on it.
In simple terms: Quality must be top‑notch, especially when safety is at stake.
Key Takeaway
Never settle for mediocrity.
Themes
software development
ethics
risk management
Mood
serious
focused
Type
pragmatic
ethical
When to use this quote
- software engineering
- medical device design
- construction projects
Key Concepts
quality assurance
human safety
project constraints
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you prioritize quality under tight deadlines?
- What safeguards ensure quality when stakes are high?
A Different Perspective
Budget or schedule pressures may force quality trade‑offs.
![“[Photography is ] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that could be happening, to some degree, with photography, too. It doesn't cost as much to do it, either.” quote by Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2eb/garry-winogrand-2342_cost_photography-is-likewise-even-french-impr_2802.jpg)
