Built Quote by Lewis Thomas
“We are built to make mistakes, coded for error.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Lives of a Cell, 1974
Human nature is inherently error‑prone, built by design.
In simple terms: We are designed to err.
Key Takeaway
Accept imperfection, improve systems.
Themes
human error
design
learning
resilience
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- engineering
- education
- healthcare
- software development
Key Concepts
systems theory
biology
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we design to reduce inevitable errors?
- What role does failure play in learning?
A Different Perspective
Not all errors are inevitable; some stem from poor design.
