If I could go upstairs and write every day, I would be happy. I don't need recreation. Henry Petroski dayhappyrecreation Change image and share on social
The space shuttle was designed, at least in part, to broaden our knowledge of the universe. To scientists, the vehicle was a tool; to engineers, it was their creation. Henry Petroski broadencreationdesign Change image and share on social
We can't simply blame the engineers when things go wrong because, no matter how well they plan, things don't always go according to plan. Henry Petroski blameengineermatter Change image and share on social
Science is about knowing; engineering is about doing. Henry Petroski engineerknowscience Change image and share on social
Companies selling a product play down its vulnerability and emphasize its robustness. But only after technology leaves the dock is it really tested. For human operators in control of a supposedly infallible system, complacency and overconfidence can take over, and caution may be thrown to the wind. Henry Petroski cautioncompanycomplacency share on social
Because every design must satisfy competing objectives, there necessarily has to be compromise among, if not the complete exclusion of, some of those objectives, in order to meet what are considered the more important of them. Henry Petroski competecompletecompromise share on social
As engineers, we were going to be in a position to change the world - not just study it. Henry Petroski changeengineerposition Change image and share on social
Many new technologies come with a promise to change the world, but the world refuses to cooperate. Henry Petroski changecooperatepromise Change image and share on social
Failure is central to engineering. Every single calculation that an engineer makes is a failure calculation. Successful engineering is all about understanding how things break or fail. Henry Petroski breakcalculationcentral Change image and share on social
All conventional wisdom has an element of truth to it, but good design requires more than an element of truth - it requires an ensemble of correct assumptions and valid calculations. Henry Petroski assumptioncalculationconventional Change image and share on social