--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There will always be plenty of things to…" description: "\"There will always be plenty of things to compute in the detailed affairs of millions of people doing complicated things.\" — Vannevar Bush" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/vannevar-bush-16927_affair_there-will-always-be-plenty-of-things-to_1487957.jpg" --- # There will always be plenty of things to compute in the… ![“There will always be plenty of things to compute in the detailed affairs of millions of people doing complicated things.” quote by Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/vannevar-bush-16927_affair_there-will-always-be-plenty-of-things-to_1487957.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/vannevar-bush-16927_affair_there-will-always-be-plenty-of-things-to_1487957.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/vannevar-bush-16927_affair_there-will-always-be-plenty-of-things-to_1487957.jpg) > “There will always be plenty of things to compute in the detailed affairs of millions of people doing complicated things.” [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complex societies generate endless computational problems, requiring continual analysis of massive, interdependent activities. **In simple terms:** Complex societies create endless problems. Key Takeaway Invest in scalable analytical tools. Themes technology complexity computation societal systems Mood pragmatic forward‑looking Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - policy planning - infrastructure management - large‑scale research - government budgeting Key Concepts systems engineering big data complex adaptive systems Questions to Reflect On - Which problems are most critical to address first? - How can we improve data reliability? A Different Perspective Computational limits and data quality can hinder accurate modeling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Complicated things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicated-things/) [Compute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compute/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [What's done we partly may compute, But know not what's resisted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/what-s-done-we-partly-may-compute-but-know-not-what-s-resisted/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [In order to figure out how to make atoms compute, you have to learn how to speak their language and to understand how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-lloyd/in-order-to-figure-out-how-to-make-atoms-compute-you-have-to-learn/) [Seth Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-lloyd/) > [“I don't compute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/i-don-t-compute/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [Experimental work of great refinement is necessary in order to determine atomic weights. No relationships between them have yet been certainly found which make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-william-richards/experimental-work-of-great-refinement-is-necessary-in-order-to/) Theodore William Richards > [So friends, every day do something that won't compute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/so-friends-every-day-do-something-that-won-t-compute/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Not every child learns the same way. I could not learn through my eyes. Reading was impossible. Math, to compute it in my mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-winkler/not-every-child-learns-the-same-way-i-could-not-learn-through-my-eyes/) [Henry Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-winkler/) > [When someone dies instantly, then I think the well of grief and disbelief all mixed in with it is unfathomable. 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Except you never saw him think twice as fast or speak twice as fast. Could he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/the-flash-could-do-everything-twice-as-fast-except-you-never-saw-him/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [To be an artist means not to compute or count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/to-be-an-artist-means-not-to-compute-or-count/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Abortion does not compute with my philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mulgrew/abortion-does-not-compute-with-my-philosophy/) [Kate Mulgrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mulgrew/) > [Computers don't lie, but liars can compute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-hayes/computers-don-t-lie-but-liars-can-compute/) [Terry Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-hayes/) ## More by Vannevar Bush > [The camera hound of the future wears on his forehead a lump a little larger than a walnut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/the-camera-hound-of-the-future-wears-on-his-forehead-a-lump-a-little/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [If scientific reasoning were limited to the logical processes of arithmetic, we should not get very far in our understanding of the physical world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/if-scientific-reasoning-were-limited-to-the-logical-processes-of/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. Nearly all men of science, all men of learning for that matter, and men of simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transcends-utility-nearly-all-men-of/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [Science can give mankind a better standard of living, better health and a better mental life, if mankind in turn gives science the sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-can-give-mankind-a-better-standard-of-living-better-health/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [The responsibility for the creation of new scientific knowledge - and for most of its application - rests on that small body of men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/the-responsibility-for-the-creation-of-new-scientific-knowledge-and/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [If scientific reasoning were limited to the logical processes of arithmetic, we should not get very far in our understanding of the physical world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/if-scientific-reasoning-were-limited-to-the-logical-processes-of-2/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. 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It is very seldom that it weathers the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/love-is-mainly-an-affair-of-short-spasms-if-these-spasms-disappoint/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [My hope does not rest in the affairs of this world. It rests in Christ who is coming again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/my-hope-does-not-rest-in-the-affairs-of-this-world-it-rests-in-christ/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [“I ripped the sketch from the wall. "Liar." Edward looked more ravaged than usual. "That is a terrible word, coming from you." "Yup." 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