Away Quote by Richard Dawkins
“A guided missile corrects its trajectory as it flies, homing in, say, on the heat of a jet plane's exhaust. A great improvement on a simple ballistic shell, it still cannot discriminate particular targets. It could not zero in on a designated New York skyscraper if launched from as far away as Boston.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins, 2006
A guided missile can adjust its path toward heat sources but lacks precise target discrimination over long distances.
In simple terms: Missiles can home in on heat but not specific distant targets.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of adaptive systems.
Themes
technology
precision
limitations
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
technical
strategic
When to use this quote
- military planning
- defense strategy
- engineering design
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
guidance systems
target discrimination
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we improve specificity in adaptive technologies?
- What are ethical implications of imprecise targeting?
A Different Perspective
Even adaptive tech can fail without precise targeting data.
![“I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to [when I started my career], because so many things are on the road. I just don't want to be away from my husband, my dogs and my home. I don't sing that much any more because that also takes you on the road.” quote by Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/07c/jane-powell-36243_away_i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s_278.jpg)
