--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem with being consistent is that…" description: "\"The problem with being consistent is that there are lots of ways to be consistent, and they're all inconsistent with each other.\" — Larry Wall" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/larry-wall-1576_consistent_the-problem-with-being-consistent-is-tha_2339153.png" --- # The problem with being consistent is that there are lots… ![“The problem with being consistent is that there are lots of ways to be consistent, and they're all inconsistent with each other.” quote by Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/larry-wall-1576_consistent_the-problem-with-being-consistent-is-tha_2339153.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/larry-wall-1576_consistent_the-problem-with-being-consistent-is-tha_2339153.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/larry-wall-1576_consistent_the-problem-with-being-consistent-is-tha_2339153.png) > “The problem with being consistent is that there are lots of ways to be consistent, and they're all inconsistent with each other.” [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. Consistency can be contradictory; many ways to be consistent clash. **In simple terms:** Too many consistencies conflict. Key Takeaway Seek coherent standards. Themes consistency paradox design Mood critical inquisitive Type technical philosophical When to use this quote - coding standards - team workflows - API design Key Concepts software architecture logic systems theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you resolve conflicting standards? - When is flexibility preferable? A Different Perspective Rigid consistency can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent/) [Consistent Inconsistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent-inconsistent-758457/) [Inconsistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconsistent/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-consistent-5654305/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Ways Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ways-consistent-5654304/) ## Related quotes > [It's hard to be consistent in an inconsistent environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/it-s-hard-to-be-consistent-in-an-inconsistent-environment/) [Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/) > [We cannot remain consistent with the world save by growing inconsistent with our past selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/we-cannot-remain-consistent-with-the-world-save-by-growing/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [A inconsistent person is still consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heritier-ndele/a-inconsistent-person-is-still-consistent/) [Heritier Ndele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heritier-ndele/) > [Psychotics are consistently inconsistent. The essence of sanity is to be inconsistently inconsistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/psychotics-are-consistently-inconsistent-the-essence-of-sanity-is-to/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [When everyone is playing the same way, maybe that doesn't matter as much. But when they're a couple of guys that are inconsistent, kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/when-everyone-is-playing-the-same-way-maybe-that-doesn-t-matter-as/) [T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/) > [The practice of executing such offenders is a relic of the past and is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency in a civilized society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/the-practice-of-executing-such-offenders-is-a-relic-of-the-past-and/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [OLD, adj. In that stage of usefulness which is not inconsistent with general inefficiency, as an "old man". Discredited by lapse of time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/old-adj-in-that-stage-of-usefulness-which-is-not-inconsistent-with/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Naturalism aimed at giving the primitive wishes full play but failed because these wishes are too primitive, too infantile, too inconsistent with themselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-desmond-bernal/naturalism-aimed-at-giving-the-primitive-wishes-full-play-but-failed/) [John Desmond Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-desmond-bernal/) > [I have been a vegetarian for forty-two years. I did it because I didn't want animals to die so I could eat. Then, eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-simon/i-have-been-a-vegetarian-for-forty-two-years-i-did-it-because-i-didn/) [Sam Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-simon/) > [Americans oppose Obamacare because they understand that it is inconsistent with our liberties and our idea of limited government and that it will destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-limbaugh/americans-oppose-obamacare-because-they-understand-that-it-is/) [David Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-limbaugh/) > [The point is this: If God does not exist, then life is objectively meaningless; but man cannot live consistently and happily knowing that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/the-point-is-this-if-god-does-not-exist-then-life-is-objectively/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [I was born to love - but none of you wanted to believe it, and that misunderstanding was crucial in forming my character. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/i-was-born-to-love-but-none-of-you-wanted-to-believe-it-and-that/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and inconsistent with it. But all science, in fact, rests on a basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/science-has-sometimes-been-said-to-be-opposed-to-faith-and/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Everything about Washington is inconsistent, because they say one thing and do another, which is what my opponent, Claire McCaskill, is very, very good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-steelman/everything-about-washington-is-inconsistent-because-they-say-one/) [Sarah Steelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-steelman/) > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That's often inconsistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/for-a-lot-of-women-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-leadership-is-the/) [Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/) ## 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 Consistent quotes > [The most important thing is consistent football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callum-hudson-odoi/the-most-important-thing-is-consistent-football/) [Callum Hudson-Odoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callum-hudson-odoi/) > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Humor is consistent with pathos, whilst wit is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/humor-is-consistent-with-pathos-whilst-wit-is-not/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [If I do the same thing consistently, no matter how I feel, I'm probably going to produce a consistent result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/if-i-do-the-same-thing-consistently-no-matter-how-i-feel-i-m-probably/) [Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/) > [Staying consistent is even more important in three-out-of-five-set matches, to be able to wear on guys over that long of a match, if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shelton/staying-consistent-is-even-more-important-in-three-out-of-five-set/) [Ben Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shelton/) > [If all areas of my game are pretty consistent, that's all I hope for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/if-all-areas-of-my-game-are-pretty-consistent-that-s-all-i-hope-for/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I want to be the best, it's not about the ranking, it's about being consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/i-want-to-be-the-best-it-s-not-about-the-ranking-it-s-about-being/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [The one thing that seems to be consistent through all my work that I like, and I experimented a lot, is the viewer is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-misrach/the-one-thing-that-seems-to-be-consistent-through-all-my-work-that-i/) [Richard Misrach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-misrach/) > [Consistent style prevents presentation from getting in the way of content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/consistent-style-prevents-presentation-from-getting-in-the-way-of/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [I reject the idea there are just two sides. I think that with the amount of ideas and thoughts there are, it's not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-reject-the-idea-there-are-just-two-sides-i-think-that-with-the/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I definitely go through periods where I'm in a particular mood, or there's a consistent imaginative context that I feel I'm in, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-definitely-go-through-periods-where-i-m-in-a-particular-mood-or/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [“You don’t have to be strong, or fast, or impressive. Just consistent. The rest will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-allen-dunn/you-don-t-have-to-be-strong-or-fast-or-impressive-just-consistent-the/) [Randall Allen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-allen-dunn/) > [Didn't think her vision was consistent with the ORC, especially the way the Council wishes to work with the ORC. For example, with regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-foster/didn-t-think-her-vision-was-consistent-with-the-orc-especially-the/) [Norman Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-foster/) > [I wanted to be consistent with my exercise, so I committed to working out for 30 days in a row, no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-sims/i-wanted-to-be-consistent-with-my-exercise-so-i-committed-to-working/) [Molly Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-sims/) [Browse all 1,410 Consistent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The problem with being consistent is that there are lots of ways to be consistent, and they're all inconsistent with each other.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Larry Wall" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/the-problem-with-being-consistent-is-that-there-are-lots-of-ways-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Consistent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/the-problem-with-being-consistent-is-that-there-are-lots-of-ways-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/larry-wall-1576_consistent_the-problem-with-being-consistent-is-tha_2339153.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/larry-wall-1576_consistent_the-problem-with-being-consistent-is-tha_2339153.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/larry-wall-1576_consistent_the-problem-with-being-consistent-is-tha_2339153.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The problem with being consistent is that there are lots of ways to be consistent, and they're all…” — Larry Wall", "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": "Larry Wall", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The problem with being consistent is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/the-problem-with-being-consistent-is-that-there-are-lots-of-ways-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/the-problem-with-being-consistent-is-that-there-are-lots-of-ways-to/#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 } } ] } ```