Accounts Quote by Richard Hamming
“Put glibly: In science if you know what you are doing you should not be doing it. In engineering if you do not know what you are doing you should not be doing it. Of course, you seldom, if ever, see either pure state.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1990s technical discussion
In science you need competence before acting; in engineering you need competence before building.
In simple terms: Know what you’re doing before you act.
Key Takeaway
Ensure expertise before execution.
Themes
competence
engineering
science
responsibility
risk
Mood
cautious
pragmatic
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research labs
- construction sites
- product development
Key Concepts
expertise
decision making
process
Questions to Reflect On
- When do you proceed despite uncertainty?
- How to assess competence accurately?
A Different Perspective
Ideal rarely exists; practical judgment required.
![“How can one go from good [auspicious state] to pure (state)? There are no words for it. It will happen when the Gnani Purush (the enlightened one) gives the awareness of the Self; it will happen when He bestows God’s grace upon you.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e9c/dada-bhagwan-31_enlightened_how-can-one-go-from-good-auspicious-stat_269702.jpg)
