Courses Quote by Neil Gaiman
“Tools, of course, can be the subtlest of traps.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Guardian, 2015
Tools can subtly trap us into unintended consequences.
In simple terms: Even helpful tools can become hidden traps.
Key Takeaway
Use tools mindfully, assess hidden costs.
Themes
technology
ethics
decision making
Mood
cautious
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
technological
When to use this quote
- product development
- risk assessment
- ethical review
Key Concepts
design
automation
human‑computer interaction
Questions to Reflect On
- What tools in your life might be limiting you?
- How can you evaluate a tool’s hidden risks?
A Different Perspective
Convenient tools may limit autonomy or create dependency.
![“Please don't fall into the trap of believing that I am terribly dogmatical about [the goto statement]. I have the uncomfortable feeling that others are making a religion out of it, as if the conceptual problems of programming could be solved by a single trick, by a simple form of coding discipline!” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ad/edsger-dijkstra-5102_believe_please-don-t-fall-into-the-trap-of-belie_167695.jpg)
![“One purpose of CRC cards [a design tool] is to fail early, to fail often, and to fail inexpensively. It is a lot cheaper to tear up a bunch of cards that it would be to reorganize a large amount of source code.” quote by Cay S. Horstmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/92f/cay-s-horstmann-75741_amount_one-purpose-of-crc-cards-a-design-tool-i_174829.jpg)
![“[T]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/19e/neil-gaiman-29_amused_t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every_4551.jpg)
![“Bernie [Ecclestone] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our sport and want to make an effort - but in my own way. I am Nico [Rosberg] and not Lewis [Hamilton]!” quote by Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/15c/bernie-ecclestone-8452_champion_bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-righ_2948.jpg)
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
