Accident Quote by Theodosius Dobzhansky
“An accident, a random change, in any delicate mechanism can hardly be expected to improve it. Poking a stick into the machinery of one's watch or one's radio set will seldom make it work better.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Genetics and the Origin of Species, 1950
Small, random disturbances in complex systems rarely lead to improvement; they often cause failure.
In simple terms: Random tweaks rarely improve delicate systems.
Key Takeaway
Avoid unnecessary meddling with complex mechanisms.
Themes
complexity
systems
randomness
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
scientific
technical
When to use this quote
- engineering design
- software updates
- mechanical repair
- policy changes
Key Concepts
evolutionary biology
systems theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Is the system you are tweaking truly fragile?
- Can a small change have unintended consequences?
A Different Perspective
Random changes can introduce new problems rather than solve existing ones.
