--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That which hits the fan tends to get…" description: "\"That which hits the fan tends to get flung in all directions.\" — Larry Wall" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/larry-wall-1576_fans_that-which-hits-the-fan-tends-to-get-flu_2863234.png" --- # That which hits the fan tends to get flung in all… ![“That which hits the fan tends to get flung in all directions.” quote by Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/larry-wall-1576_fans_that-which-hits-the-fan-tends-to-get-flu_2863234.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/larry-wall-1576_fans_that-which-hits-the-fan-tends-to-get-flu_2863234.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/larry-wall-1576_fans_that-which-hits-the-fan-tends-to-get-flu_2863234.png) > “That which hits the fan tends to get flung in all directions.” [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When problems arise, they spread quickly and unpredictably, affecting many areas. **In simple terms:** Problems spread rapidly in all directions. Key Takeaway Address issues early to prevent chaos. Themes technology problem‑solving complexity Mood pragmatic analytical Type technical philosophical When to use this quote - software development - project management - crisis response Key Concepts cascade effect systemic risk Questions to Reflect On - What early warning signs can you monitor? - How do you prioritize fixing bugs? A Different Perspective Not all issues are preventable; some are inherent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [When all else hits the fan, I jump back onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hector/when-all-else-hits-the-fan-i-jump-back-onstage/) [Jamie Hector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hector/) > [“if s\*\*\* hits the fan, chuck the fan in the loo”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingemocut/if-s-hits-the-fan-chuck-the-fan-in-the-loo/) Kingemocut > [You learn who your friends are when the sh-t hits the fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/you-learn-who-your-friends-are-when-the-sh-t-hits-the-fan/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [“Suddenly the door opened and in stomped a giant reeking of the river, and before anyone knew what was happening, he had grabbed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bohumil-hrabal/suddenly-the-door-opened-and-in-stomped-a-giant-reeking-of-the-river/) [Bohumil Hrabal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bohumil-hrabal/) > [“they were beginning to stream across like strings of jewels flung from another planet”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-key/they-were-beginning-to-stream-across-like-strings-of-jewels-flung/) [Alexander Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-key/) > [“...all the thousands of God's children who have flung themselves, stupid and glorious, over and over, into the best and worst of things, loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacia-m-brown/all-the-thousands-of-god-s-children-who-have-flung-themselves-stupid/) Stacia M. Brown > [He judged the instant and let go; he flung himself loose into the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/he-judged-the-instant-and-let-go-he-flung-himself-loose-into-the-stars/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“He had been suddenly jerked from the heart of civilization and flung into the heart of things primordial.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/he-had-been-suddenly-jerked-from-the-heart-of-civilization-and-flung/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“So I put my shoulder against the door, which was too little for me anyway, said a hearty fuck your mother to the element…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-bennett/so-i-put-my-shoulder-against-the-door-which-was-too-little-for-me/) [Danielle Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-bennett/) > [I flung my tongue round like a cat-o'-nine-tails so that my pleasant peaceful infant room became little less than a German concentration camp as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ashton-warner/i-flung-my-tongue-round-like-a-cat-o-nine-tails-so-that-my-pleasant/) [Sylvia Ashton-Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ashton-warner/) > [“there's no beauty without poignancy and there's no poignancy without the feeling that it's going, men, names, books, houses--bound for dust--mortal--" a small boy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/there-s-no-beauty-without-poignancy-and-there-s-no-poignancy-without-2/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Ignorant men do not know what good they hold in their hands until they've flung it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/ignorant-men-do-not-know-what-good-they-hold-in-their-hands-until/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“Just as I was flung over the threshold, I embraced Grigoire the Swiss Fiancé in a rugger grip, determined that smug cockatoo was coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/just-as-i-was-flung-over-the-threshold-i-embraced-grigoire-the-swiss/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“Time slid from under me in drifts like ice skids on the highway, punctuated by sudden sharp flashes where my wheels caught and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/time-slid-from-under-me-in-drifts-like-ice-skids-on-the-highway/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“The world turned and flung me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-iserson/the-world-turned-and-flung-me/) [David Iserson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-iserson/) ## More by Larry Wall > [Not that I have anything much against redundancy. But I said that already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/not-that-i-have-anything-much-against-redundancy-but-i-said-that/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [Perhaps you should compile your Perl with long doubles one of these megaseconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/perhaps-you-should-compile-your-perl-with-long-doubles-one-of-these/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [Take Lisp, you know its the most beautiful language in the world -- at least up until Haskell came along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/take-lisp-you-know-its-the-most-beautiful-language-in-the-world-at/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [I'm reminded of the day my daughter came in, looked over my shoulder at some Perl 4 code, and said, 'What is that, swearing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/i-m-reminded-of-the-day-my-daughter-came-in-looked-over-my-shoulder/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [Yes, but I did manage to increase the amount of virginity in the world by that method.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/yes-but-i-did-manage-to-increase-the-amount-of-virginity-in-the-world/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [I won't mention any names, because I don't want to get sun4's into trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/i-won-t-mention-any-names-because-i-don-t-want-to-get-sun4-s-into/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [And besides, if Perl really takes off in the Windows space, I think the rest of us would just as soon have a double-agent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/and-besides-if-perl-really-takes-off-in-the-windows-space-i-think-the/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [In general, they do what you want, unless you want consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/in-general-they-do-what-you-want-unless-you-want-consistency/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [I suppose you could switch grammars once you've seen 'use strict subs'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/i-suppose-you-could-switch-grammars-once-you-ve-seen-use-strict-subs/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [While I have historically been a late worker, you know, sometimes I even like to get up early and see what's happened in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/while-i-have-historically-been-a-late-worker-you-know-sometimes-i/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [All language designers are arrogant. Goes with the territory...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/all-language-designers-are-arrogant-goes-with-the-territory/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [Perl has a long tradition of working around compilers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/perl-has-a-long-tradition-of-working-around-compilers/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [Part of language design is perturbing the proposed feature in various directions to see how it might generalize in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/part-of-language-design-is-perturbing-the-proposed-feature-in-various/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [We can debug relationships, but it's always good policy to consider the people themselves to be features. People get annoyed when you try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/we-can-debug-relationships-but-it-s-always-good-policy-to-consider/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [The whole intent of Perl 5's module system was to encourage the growth of Perl culture rather than the Perl core.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/the-whole-intent-of-perl-5-s-module-system-was-to-encourage-the/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) [Explore all 226 Larry Wall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) ## More Fans quotes > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Love will fan the flame, and that flame will warm the heart that's waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/love-will-fan-the-flame-and-that-flame-will-warm-the-heart-that-s/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [I love what I do and I love the fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eads/i-love-what-i-do-and-i-love-the-fans/) [George Eads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eads/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [We earned any fans with the way we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/we-earned-any-fans-with-the-way-we-play/) [Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/) > [I think metal fans are more loyal than other fans, and they are often more inclined to collect the albums of their favorite bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/i-think-metal-fans-are-more-loyal-than-other-fans-and-they-are-often/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [I want to fight the fights that fans want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/i-want-to-fight-the-fights-that-fans-want-to-see/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [When you win you're going to get fans chanting your name and when you don't do great they're going to give you stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-bellerin/when-you-win-you-re-going-to-get-fans-chanting-your-name-and-when-you/) [Hector Bellerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-bellerin/) > [I just know that I wasn't happy where I was. I didn't feel complete. I didn't feel like I was contributing what I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-pendergrass/i-just-know-that-i-wasn-t-happy-where-i-was-i-didn-t-feel-complete-i/) [Teddy Pendergrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-pendergrass/) > [Acting keeps me young! I love that the fans like this kind of action and as long as they want me I'll continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/acting-keeps-me-young-i-love-that-the-fans-like-this-kind-of-action/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [True fans will appreciate what I've done and the legacy I've left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petr-cech/true-fans-will-appreciate-what-i-ve-done-and-the-legacy-i-ve-left/) [Petr Cech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petr-cech/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. 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