Douglas Adams

Topics: software design, simplicity, complexity, engineering leadership

• A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.

  — Douglas Adams

• Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

  — Douglas Adams

• Anything that was in the world when you were born is normal and natural. Anything invented between when you were 15 and 35 is new and revolutionary and exciting, and you'll probably get a career in it. Anything invented after you're 35 is against the natural order of things.

  — Douglas Adams

• We are stuck with technology when all we really want is just stuff that works. How do you recognize something that is still technology? A good clue is if it comes with a manual.

  — Douglas Adams