Never trust any complicated cocktail that remains perfectly clear until the last ingredient goes in, and then immediately clouds.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Complicated systems often reveal their true nature only at the final step, exposing hidden flaws or chaos.
- In plain terms
- If something looks perfect until the end, it probably isn't.
- What can you take from it?
- Watch out for processes that hide complexity until completion.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When did a project surprise you at the finish?
- How do you spot hidden complexity?
Another view
Sometimes clarity is preserved until the end by design.
More from Terry Pratchett
I keep vaguely wondering what Macs are like, but the ones I've seen spend too much time being friendly.
Permalink to quote #10 'Educational' refers to the process, not the object. Although, come to think of it, some of my teachers could easily have been replaced by a cheeseburger.
Permalink to quote #12 Wikipedia, eh? Must be accurate then! The age interview (17 Feb 2007)
Permalink to quote #9
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