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About this quote

What does it mean?
Progress creates new needs, and we keep pushing forward, hoping the consequences aren't harmful.
In plain terms
Innovation brings new necessities, and we hope it doesn't hurt anyone.
What can you take from it?
Be mindful of unintended effects when advancing technology.

Where it applies

  • product development
  • policy making

Putting it to work

  • assess impact early
  • design safeguards

Questions to consider

  • How can we balance innovation with caution?
  • What safeguards are realistic?

Another view

Sometimes progress inevitably disrupts existing systems.

More from Larry Wall

  1. Randal can write one-liners again. Everyone is happy, and peace spreads over the whole Earth.

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  2. No prisoner's dilemma here. Over the long term, symbiosis is more useful than parasitism. More fun, too. Ask any mitochondria.

    Permalink to quote #85
  3. The whole intent of Perl 5's module system was to encourage the growth of Perl culture rather than the Perl core.

    Permalink to quote #82

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