Cost Quote by Ward Cunningham
“When you get in situations where you cannot afford to make a mistake, it's very hard to do the right thing. So if you're trying to do the right thing, the right thing might be to eliminate the cost of making a mistake rather than try to guess what's right.”
About This Quote
When stakes are high, avoid costly errors by removing risk rather than guessing the correct action.
In simple terms: Eliminate risk instead of guessing the right move in
Key Takeaway
Focus on risk reduction.
Themes
decisionmaking
risk management
ethics
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- high‑stakes projects
- financial decisions
- medical procedures
- legal compliance
Key Concepts
Opportunity cost
error mitigation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you reduce risk without stifling initiative?
- When is it acceptable to accept some risk?
A Different Perspective
Eliminating risk may not always be feasible or may create complacency.
![“[Photography is ] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that could be happening, to some degree, with photography, too. It doesn't cost as much to do it, either.” quote by Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2eb/garry-winogrand-2342_cost_photography-is-likewise-even-french-impr_2802.jpg)
