--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tinkering is something we need to know…" description: "\"Tinkering is something we need to know how to do in order to keep something like the space station running. I am a tinkerer by nature.\" — Leroy Chiao" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/leroy-chiao-7059_nature_tinkering-is-something-we-need-to-know-h_287672.png" --- # Tinkering is something we need to know how to do in order… ![“Tinkering is something we need to know how to do in order to keep something like the space station running. I am a tinkerer by nature.” quote by Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/leroy-chiao-7059_nature_tinkering-is-something-we-need-to-know-h_287672.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/leroy-chiao-7059_nature_tinkering-is-something-we-need-to-know-h_287672.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/038/leroy-chiao-7059_nature_tinkering-is-something-we-need-to-know-h_287672.png) > “Tinkering is something we need to know how to do in order to keep something like the space station running. I am a tinkerer by nature.” [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Continuous tinkering is essential for maintaining complex systems like the space station. **In simple terms:** Keep fixing things. Key Takeaway Maintain and improve. Themes engineering maintenance innovation problem solving space exploration Mood pragmatic inspirational Type technical motivational When to use this quote - space station operations - robotics repair - DIY projects Key Concepts systems engineering hands‑on learning continuous improvement Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance tinkering with planning? - What skills support effective maintenance? A Different Perspective Tinkering alone cannot replace systematic design. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Tinkering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tinkering/) ## Related quotes > [I like taking things apart and putting them back together. Tinkering. I'd be a professional tinkerer. Tinkerbell. I think that's what they're called.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carmack/i-like-taking-things-apart-and-putting-them-back-together-tinkering-i/) [Chris Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carmack/) > [That's one of the advantages of being an inventor and tinkerer - I have everything I need to make what I need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/that-s-one-of-the-advantages-of-being-an-inventor-and-tinkerer-i-have/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [evolution is a tinkerer, an ad-hocker, and a jury-rigger. It works with what it has on hand, not with what it has in mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/evolution-is-a-tinkerer-an-ad-hocker-and-a-jury-rigger-it-works-with/) [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) > [Nature is a tinkerer, not an inventor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-jacob/nature-is-a-tinkerer-not-an-inventor/) [Francois Jacob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-jacob/) > [Good technology isn't just a matter of mission statements; it can also come from a tinkerer with no specific overriding purpose other than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-johnson/good-technology-isn-t-just-a-matter-of-mission-statements-it-can-also/) [Bryan Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-johnson/) > [My personal mission has always been to empower people to be creative. But the Holy Grail of a tinkerer is to make something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bre-pettis/my-personal-mission-has-always-been-to-empower-people-to-be-creative/) [Bre Pettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bre-pettis/) > [Evolution is a tinkerer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-jacob/evolution-is-a-tinkerer/) [Francois Jacob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-jacob/) > [I hear what they're saying. I ask my English tutor, 'What is this word 'tinkerer?''](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/i-hear-what-they-re-saying-i-ask-my-english-tutor-what-is-this-word/) [Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/) > [Devolving APD to Scotland is merely tinkering with it. 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No tinkering with this, that, or the other law will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-chodorov/we-cannot-restore-traditional-american-freedom-unless-we-limit-the/) [Frank Chodorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-chodorov/) > [Let us face reality. The framers (of the Constitution) have simply been too shrewd for us. They have outwitted us. They designed separate institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macgregor-burns/let-us-face-reality-the-framers-of-the-constitution-have-simply-been/) [James MacGregor Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macgregor-burns/) > [You can go as far back as fifth grade, and you will find me tinkering with media and computers, making things that are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/you-can-go-as-far-back-as-fifth-grade-and-you-will-find-me-tinkering/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [I was always tinkering around with stuff but nothing serious at the time. I was doing animations and drawing like crazy, but I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-vangaalen/i-was-always-tinkering-around-with-stuff-but-nothing-serious-at-the/) Chad VanGaalen ## More by Leroy Chiao > [If you increase the number of rockets you build and you buy, then it's the scale of the economy, the price is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/if-you-increase-the-number-of-rockets-you-build-and-you-buy-then-it-s/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I'm skeptical of claims that we've been visited by aliens from another planet or other dimension, but I don't rule it out 100 percent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-m-skeptical-of-claims-that-we-ve-been-visited-by-aliens-from/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [On the mission I brought a flag from China, I brought the stone sculpture from Hong Kong, and I brought a scroll from Taiwan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/on-the-mission-i-brought-a-flag-from-china-i-brought-the-stone/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [One day, people will be able to buy tickets to visit space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/one-day-people-will-be-able-to-buy-tickets-to-visit-space/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I think it's good to have competition. 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