On two occasions I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.
WISDOM · VERIFIED · EN
Charles Babbage Quote
“Some kinds of nails, such as those used for defending the soles of coarse shoes, called hobnails, require a particular form of the head, which is made by the stroke of a die.”
0
Source: Quotables — alvations/Quotables (CC0 1.0 dataset)
Attribution status: verified · Publication status: cleared
Explore more quotes attributed to Charles Babbage or browse wisdom quotes.
If you believe this quote is incorrectly attributed or should be removed, see Copyright and quote corrections.
Related verified quotes
Errors using inadequate data are much less than those using no data at all.
The economy of human time is the next advantage of machinery in manufactures.
A tool is usually more simple than a machine; it is generally used with the hand, whilst a machine is frequently moved by animal or steam power.
In mathematics we have long since drawn the rein, and given over a hopeless race.
Perhaps it would be better for science, that all criticism should be avowed.