People Build Quote by Terry Pratchett
““People build something that works. Then circumstances change, and they have to tinker with it to make it continue to work, and they are so busy tinkering that they cannot see that a much better idea would be to build a whole new system to deal with the new circumstances. But to an outsider, the idea is obvious.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Discworld series, various books, 1990s
When systems become outdated, people focus on patching them instead of redesigning, missing obvious better solutions.
In simple terms: Fixing old systems blocks seeing new ones.
Key Takeaway
Consider redesign, not just repair.
Themes
innovation
systems
obsolescence
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- software development
- business strategy
- public policy
- personal habits
Key Concepts
systems thinking
incremental vs radical change
Questions to Reflect On
- What would a fresh start look like?
- How can we balance fixing and redesigning?
A Different Perspective
New designs may be costly and risky.
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