--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is the most important thing I will…" description: "\"This is the most important thing I will ever say to you. The human mind is the ultimate testing device. You can take all the notes you want on the tech..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_data_this-is-the-most-important-thing-i-will_447238.jpg" --- # This is the most important thing I will ever say to you… ![“This is the most important thing I will ever say to you. The human mind is the ultimate testing device. You can take all the notes you want on the technical data, anything you forget you can look up again, but this must be engraved on your hearts in letters of fire. There is nothing, nothing…” quote by Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_data_this-is-the-most-important-thing-i-will_447238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_data_this-is-the-most-important-thing-i-will_447238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_data_this-is-the-most-important-thing-i-will_447238.jpg) > “This is the most important thing I will ever say to you. The human mind is the ultimate testing device. You can take all the notes you want on the technical data, anything you forget you can look up again, but this must be engraved on your hearts in letters of fire. There is nothing, nothing, nothing, more important to me in the men and women I train than their absolute personal integrity. Whether you function as welders or inspectors, the laws of physics are implacable lie detectors. You may fool men. You will never fool metal. That’s all.” [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Integrity is essential; technical skill alone isn’t enough. **In simple terms:** Integrity matters most. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal integrity. Themes integrity trust professionalism Mood motivational serious Type professional ethical When to use this quote - workplace safety - team building - quality control Key Concepts ethics engineering leadership Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure integrity in your work? - What systems support honest practice? A Different Perspective Integrity is hard to measure objectively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws of physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-of-physics/) [Lie detector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie-detector/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Metals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metals/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Personal integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-integrity/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) ## Related quotes > [Whether you function as welders or inspectors, the laws of physics are implacable lie-detectors. You may fool men. You will never fool the metal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/whether-you-function-as-welders-or-inspectors-the-laws-of-physics-are/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Champagne, if you are seeking the truth, is better than a lie detector. It encourages a man to be expansive, even reckless, while lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/champagne-if-you-are-seeking-the-truth-is-better-than-a-lie-detector-2/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [The Operative tried to implement the Purusey breathing technique, which has been proven effective at fooling polygraphs. There is no conclusive evidence as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/the-operative-tried-to-implement-the-purusey-breathing-technique/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [So efficient are the available instruments of slavery; fingerprints, lie detectors, brain washings, gas chambers; that we shiver at the thought of political change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-baruch/so-efficient-are-the-available-instruments-of-slavery-fingerprints/) [Bernard Baruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-baruch/) > [“Lie detectors (should it prove feasible to make ones that are reliable and easy to use) could reduce the scope for deception in human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-bostrom/lie-detectors-should-it-prove-feasible-to-make-ones-that-are-reliable/) [Nick Bostrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-bostrom/) > [“Yet, a recent government report on routine security screenings, written by a panel of experts at the National Academy of Sciences, had stated that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-flook/yet-a-recent-government-report-on-routine-security-screenings-written/) Maria Flook > [Lie detectors sometimes work because people believe they work, deterring the wrong people from applying for jobs in the first place, or prompting admissions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/lie-detectors-sometimes-work-because-people-believe-they-work/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [I told the truth, and I did it on national TV in a lie-detector test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-jones/i-told-the-truth-and-i-did-it-on-national-tv-in-a-lie-detector-test/) Paula Jones > [When the National Security Agency recruited me, they put me through a day of lie detector tests. They found out all my weaknesses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/when-the-national-security-agency-recruited-me-they-put-me-through-a/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [I wish I had a lie detector test right now He hit my girl word - Oh thats what you heard? He know he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gucci-mane/i-wish-i-had-a-lie-detector-test-right-now-he-hit-my-girl-word-oh/) [Gucci Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gucci-mane/) > [To become a Secret Service agent, applicants must pass a polygraph exam. 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David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-a-david/) > [My own view is that if you filled every member of the parliamentary Labour party with a truth drug and lashed them to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-dobson/my-own-view-is-that-if-you-filled-every-member-of-the-parliamentary/) [Frank Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-dobson/) > [“The lie detector didn’t react to anything I said, but I wouldn’t dare smile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-bode/the-lie-detector-didn-t-react-to-anything-i-said-but-i-wouldn-t-dare/) [Maya Bode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-bode/) ## More by Lois McMaster Bujold > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Never do yourself, what you can con professionals into doing for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/never-do-yourself-what-you-can-con-professionals-into-doing-for-you/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“It reminded him of that definition of his father's. 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They think they are the emperors of creation."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/no-amusing-me-only-i-wonder-if-they-realize-how-they-are-used-not-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“You bastards are on the top of Imperial Lord Auditor Miles Vorkosigan's very own shit list now, you bet. But under what name? Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/you-bastards-are-on-the-top-of-imperial-lord-auditor-miles-vorkosigan/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Anyway, if the Cetagandans really wanted to assassinate you, they'd hardly do it here. They'd slip something subtle under your skin that wouldn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/anyway-if-the-cetagandans-really-wanted-to-assassinate-you-they-d/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Endure pain, find joy, and make your own meaning, because the universe certainly isn't going to supply it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/endure-pain-find-joy-and-make-your-own-meaning-because-the-universe/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Your Reverence, I do not hate any man in this world enough to inflict the results of my prayers upon him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/your-reverence-i-do-not-hate-any-man-in-this-world-enough-to-inflict/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“I always thought my parents could fix anything. Now it's my turn. Dear God, how did this happen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-always-thought-my-parents-could-fix-anything-now-it-s-my-turn-dear/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“I think it is not so much the growth of virtue, as simply the replacement of prior vices with an addiction to one’s god.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-think-it-is-not-so-much-the-growth-of-virtue-as-simply-the/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Mark’s ideas tended to the bland, and there was no point in asking Miles, whose embittered suggestions all ran to things like Vomit Vanilla…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/mark-s-ideas-tended-to-the-bland-and-there-was-no-point-in-asking/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/the-dead-cannot-cry-out-for-justice-it-is-a-duty-of-the-living-to-do/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Gardens were meant to be seen, smelled, walked through, grubbed in. 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Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-mayer-sch-nberger/the-amount-of-stored-information-grows-four-times-faster-than-the/) [Viktor Mayer-Schönberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-mayer-sch-nberger/) [Browse all 3,134 Data quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is the most important thing I will ever say to you. The human mind is the ultimate testing device. You can take all the notes you want on the technical data, anything you forget you can look up again, but this must be engraved on your hearts in letters of fire. There is nothing, nothing, nothing, more important to me in the men and women I train than their absolute personal integrity. Whether you function as welders or inspectors, the laws of physics are implacable lie detectors. You may fool men. You will never fool metal. 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