--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If what you paid for an engine that could…" description: "\"If what you paid for an engine that could go 120 is significantly higher than the cost of an engine that would get you to 90, then you are \"wasting\" ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/steven-pearlstein-52490_big-deal_if-what-you-paid-for-an-engine-that-coul_325075.jpg" --- # If what you paid for an engine that could go 120 is… ![“If what you paid for an engine that could go 120 is significantly higher than the cost of an engine that would get you to 90, then you are "wasting" capacity. Its probably not a big deal in the case of your car. But it may be a big deal to a company when it comes to its computer system's capacity.” quote by Steven Pearlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/steven-pearlstein-52490_big-deal_if-what-you-paid-for-an-engine-that-coul_325075.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/steven-pearlstein-52490_big-deal_if-what-you-paid-for-an-engine-that-coul_325075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/steven-pearlstein-52490_big-deal_if-what-you-paid-for-an-engine-that-coul_325075.jpg) > “If what you paid for an engine that could go 120 is significantly higher than the cost of an engine that would get you to 90, then you are "wasting" capacity. Its probably not a big deal in the case of your car. But it may be a big deal to a company when it comes to its computer system's capacity.” [Steven Pearlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pearlstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Over‑provisioning resources leads to wasted capacity and unnecessary cost, especially in large‑scale systems. **In simple terms:** Extra capacity costs money and is often unused. Key Takeaway Match capacity to actual demand. Themes efficiency cost management resource allocation Mood pragmatic analytical Type business technical When to use this quote - IT budgeting - cloud infrastructure planning - manufacturing capacity planning Key Concepts economics systems design optimization Questions to Reflect On - Is the extra capacity ever needed? - How can you measure true demand? A Different Perspective Higher upfront costs may be justified for future scalability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [120 Significantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/120-significantly-3055220/) [Big deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-deal/) [Capacity Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity-probably-3055221/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Engine 120](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engine-120-3055219/) [Engine 90](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engine-90-3055223/) [Wasting Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-capacity-3055222/) ## Related quotes > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“What’s wrong with you?” John asks suspiciously. I give him a ‘what chu talkin’ ‘bout Willis?’ look and he explains. “You just woke up.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelin-lamontagne/what-s-wrong-with-you-john-asks-suspiciously-i-give-him-a-what-chu/) [Katelin LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelin-lamontagne/) > [People make such a big deal about how people in bands look, especially if you're a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/people-make-such-a-big-deal-about-how-people-in-bands-look-especially/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [When you're standing around for an hour doing stand up it's no big deal but when you're standing around watching a show for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/when-you-re-standing-around-for-an-hour-doing-stand-up-it-s-no-big/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [Tom Stafford was an odd character, you know - a brilliant guy. He looked weird and I think he took a really defensive attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-fritts/tom-stafford-was-an-odd-character-you-know-a-brilliant-guy-he-looked/) [Donnie Fritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-fritts/) > [I've never been truly closeted on the air; it's just something I never really made a big deal out of because I never felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-ve-never-been-truly-closeted-on-the-air-it-s-just-something-i-never/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [“Being responsible for someone’s childhood is a big deal. We not only create our own memories, but we create our child’s memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-macy-stafford/being-responsible-for-someone-s-childhood-is-a-big-deal-we-not-only/) [Rachel Macy Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-macy-stafford/) > [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [Everyone's just laughing at me. I hate it. Big breasts, big ass, big deal, Can't I be anything else ? Gee, how long can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/everyone-s-just-laughing-at-me-i-hate-it-big-breasts-big-ass-big-deal/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [“Perspective is everything. If your “why” is big enough, you can deal with almost any “what.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-searcy/perspective-is-everything-if-your-why-is-big-enough-you-can-deal-with/) [Nelson Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-searcy/) > [“But in the parent department, he had won the lottery. So, he'd always known that when he finally told them, they'd make him feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corey-whaley/but-in-the-parent-department-he-had-won-the-lottery-so-he-d-always/) [John Corey Whaley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corey-whaley/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) ## More by Steven Pearlstein > [I think we should be clear: Companies will still need software that furthers their corporate goals and even gives them competitive advantage. That would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pearlstein/i-think-we-should-be-clear-companies-will-still-need-software-that/) [Steven Pearlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pearlstein/) > [It is possible in theory and I think true in practice that centralization could have been the optimal solution at the beginning of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pearlstein/it-is-possible-in-theory-and-i-think-true-in-practice-that/) [Steven Pearlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pearlstein/) > [No outsourcing the "soul" of the company - let's all agree to that. But most companies are more body than soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pearlstein/no-outsourcing-the-soul-of-the-company-let-s-all-agree-to-that-but/) [Steven Pearlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pearlstein/) > [Obviously, you can't operate a system at 100 percent capacity. You need room for growth. And because there are peak times, you need surge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pearlstein/obviously-you-can-t-operate-a-system-at-100-percent-capacity-you-need/) [Steven Pearlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pearlstein/) > [I think I hear the voice of an environmentalist. Why stop with Alaska, however. Why don't we depopulate Montana, Idaho, Washington, Colorado the California…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pearlstein/i-think-i-hear-the-voice-of-an-environmentalist-why-stop-with-alaska/) [Steven Pearlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pearlstein/) > [I love these appeals to the "complexity of doing business in Alaska." If you want to live in remote villages or places with hostile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pearlstein/i-love-these-appeals-to-the-complexity-of-doing-business-in-alaska-if/) [Steven Pearlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pearlstein/) [Explore all 7 Steven Pearlstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pearlstein/) ## More Big deal quotes > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“But in the parent department, he had won the lottery. So, he'd always known that when he finally told them, they'd make him feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corey-whaley/but-in-the-parent-department-he-had-won-the-lottery-so-he-d-always/) [John Corey Whaley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corey-whaley/) > [“Perspective is everything. If your “why” is big enough, you can deal with almost any “what.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-searcy/perspective-is-everything-if-your-why-is-big-enough-you-can-deal-with/) [Nelson Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-searcy/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Everyone's just laughing at me. I hate it. Big breasts, big ass, big deal, Can't I be anything else ? Gee, how long can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/everyone-s-just-laughing-at-me-i-hate-it-big-breasts-big-ass-big-deal/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Being responsible for someone’s childhood is a big deal. We not only create our own memories, but we create our child’s memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-macy-stafford/being-responsible-for-someone-s-childhood-is-a-big-deal-we-not-only/) [Rachel Macy Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-macy-stafford/) > [I've never been truly closeted on the air; it's just something I never really made a big deal out of because I never felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-ve-never-been-truly-closeted-on-the-air-it-s-just-something-i-never/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [Tom Stafford was an odd character, you know - a brilliant guy. He looked weird and I think he took a really defensive attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-fritts/tom-stafford-was-an-odd-character-you-know-a-brilliant-guy-he-looked/) [Donnie Fritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-fritts/) > [When you're standing around for an hour doing stand up it's no big deal but when you're standing around watching a show for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/when-you-re-standing-around-for-an-hour-doing-stand-up-it-s-no-big/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [People make such a big deal about how people in bands look, especially if you're a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/people-make-such-a-big-deal-about-how-people-in-bands-look-especially/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [“What’s wrong with you?” John asks suspiciously. I give him a ‘what chu talkin’ ‘bout Willis?’ look and he explains. “You just woke up.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelin-lamontagne/what-s-wrong-with-you-john-asks-suspiciously-i-give-him-a-what-chu/) [Katelin LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelin-lamontagne/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) [Browse all 1,273 Big deal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-deal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If what you paid for an engine that could go 120 is significantly higher than the cost of an engine that would get you to 90, then you are \"wasting\" capacity. Its probably not a big deal in the case of your car. 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