--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you go back to a century ago, the…" description: "\"“If you go back to a century ago, the major problems of electrical and mechanical engineering had to do with how to place a huge gun on a moving platfo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/noam-chomsky-42_automotive-industry_if-you-go-back-to-a-century-ago-the-majo_1161440.jpg" --- # If you go back to a century ago, the major problems of… ![“If you go back to a century ago, the major problems of electrical and mechanical engineering had to do with how to place a huge gun on a moving platform, namely a ship, designing it to be able to hit a moving object, another ship, so naval gunnery. That was the most advanced problem in metallurgy…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/noam-chomsky-42_automotive-industry_if-you-go-back-to-a-century-ago-the-majo_1161440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/noam-chomsky-42_automotive-industry_if-you-go-back-to-a-century-ago-the-majo_1161440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/noam-chomsky-42_automotive-industry_if-you-go-back-to-a-century-ago-the-majo_1161440.jpg) > ““If you go back to a century ago, the major problems of electrical and mechanical engineering had to do with how to place a huge gun on a moving platform, namely a ship, designing it to be able to hit a moving object, another ship, so naval gunnery. That was the most advanced problem in metallurgy, electrical and mechanical engineering, and so on. England and Germany put huge efforts into it, the United States less so. Out of associated innovations comes the automotive industry.”” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Engineering challenges of naval gunnery spurred advances that later enabled the automotive industry. **In simple terms:** Naval gun problems led to car tech. Key Takeaway Recognize how solving one problem can spawn unrelated breakthroughs. Themes technology innovation history industry crossdisciplinary Mood reflective analytical Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - military ship design - automotive development - industrial policy - research funding Key Concepts systems engineering materials science mechanical design Questions to Reflect On - How can current challenges be reframed to inspire new industries? - What modern problems might seed future unrelated technologies? A Different Perspective Other sectors also drive innovation, not just military. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Automotive Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automotive-industry/) [Mechanical Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanical-engineering/) ## Related quotes > [In 1955, I got my degree in electrical-mechanical engineering. I realised, however, that my interest was less in practical applications than in the understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-englert/in-1955-i-got-my-degree-in-electrical-mechanical-engineering-i/) [Francois Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-englert/) > [ I couldn't trash \[Adolf\] Hitler enough. Poor bastards, they make all these contributions to the automotive industry, aeronautics, space - but you pick one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-couldn-t-trash-adolf-hitler-enough-poor-bastards-they-make-all/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [“My grandfather's short employ at the Ford Motor Company marked the only time any Stephanides has ever worked in the automotive industry. 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Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [The U.S. automotive industry has been selling cars the same way for over 100 years, and there are many laws in place to govern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/the-u-s-automotive-industry-has-been-selling-cars-the-same-way-for/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [I alienated the automotive industry by saying that cars should be lightweight and compact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-loewy/i-alienated-the-automotive-industry-by-saying-that-cars-should-be/) [Raymond Loewy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-loewy/) > [In every phase of the automotive industry, certain factors have been more important than all others in relation to the way the automobile has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-loewy/in-every-phase-of-the-automotive-industry-certain-factors-have-been/) [Raymond Loewy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-loewy/) > [If General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-general-motors-ford-and-chrysler-get-the-bailout-that-their-chief/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Ultimately, auto designers need to overcome market challenges with innovative design solutions. 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Our well-known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/best4automation/best4automation-is-the-industry-marketplace-which-combines-all-the/) Best4automation ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. 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Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. 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The automotive industry is at a turning point with environmental and economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-pelly/ultimately-auto-designers-need-to-overcome-market-challenges-with/) [Charles Pelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-pelly/) > [If General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-general-motors-ford-and-chrysler-get-the-bailout-that-their-chief/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [In every phase of the automotive industry, certain factors have been more important than all others in relation to the way the automobile has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-loewy/in-every-phase-of-the-automotive-industry-certain-factors-have-been/) [Raymond Loewy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-loewy/) > [I alienated the automotive industry by saying that cars should be lightweight and compact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-loewy/i-alienated-the-automotive-industry-by-saying-that-cars-should-be/) [Raymond Loewy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-loewy/) > [The U.S. automotive industry has been selling cars the same way for over 100 years, and there are many laws in place to govern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/the-u-s-automotive-industry-has-been-selling-cars-the-same-way-for/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [The majority of America's colossal fortunes have been made by entering industries in their early stages and developing leadership in them… Think of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/the-majority-of-america-s-colossal-fortunes-have-been-made-by/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Formula E is trying to do something totally different to F1. When the battery technology does improve, because of our championship, and it transcends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bird/formula-e-is-trying-to-do-something-totally-different-to-f1-when-the/) [Sam Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bird/) > [Mexico has acquired unique experience during its integration into global value chains, especially in the automotive industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-pena-nieto/mexico-has-acquired-unique-experience-during-its-integration-into/) [Enrique Pena Nieto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-pena-nieto/) > [“My grandfather's short employ at the Ford Motor Company marked the only time any Stephanides has ever worked in the automotive industry. 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