Hyman Rickover
Hyman Rickover
Hyman George Rickoverwas a United States Navy admiral who directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of Naval Reactors. In addition, he oversaw the development of the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor used for generating electricity...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSoldier
Date of Birth27 January 1900
CountryUnited States of America
knowing mind court
Knowing more about the public effects his work will have, the engineer ought to consider himself an "officer of the court" and keep the general interest always in mind.
mistake pieces paper
The tools of the academic designer are a piece of paper and a pencil with an eraser. If a mistake is made, it can always be erased and changed. If the practical-reactor designer errs, he wears the mistake around his neck; it cannot be erased. Everyone sees it.
unique may individual
Responsiblity is a unique concept. It can only reside and inhere in a single individual. You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you. You may disclaim it, but you cannot divest yourself of it.
writing pages weakness
Nothing so sharpens the thought process as writing down one's arguments. Weaknesses overlooked in oral discussion become painfully obvious on the written page.
devil details salvation
The Devil is in the details, but so is salvation.
inspirational funny twilight
If you are going to sin, sin against God, not the bureaucracy. God will forgive you but the bureaucracy won't.
military devil details
The devil is in the details, and everything we do in the military is a detail.
nature technology progress
It troubles me that we are so easily pressured by purveyors of technology into permitting so-called "progress" to alter our lives without attempting to control it-as if technology were an irrepressible force of nature to which we must meekly submit.
past men consistency
To doubt one's own first principles is the mark of a civilized man. Don't defend past actions; what is right today may be wrong tomorrow. Don't be consistent; consistency is the refuge of fools.
optimism stupidity
Optimism and stupidity are nearly synonymous.
smart people dumb
I have the charisma of the chipmunk. I never have thought I was smart. I thought the people I dealt with were dumb.
courage ideas innovation
Good ideas and innovations must be driven into existence by courage and patience.
strong real long
In Greek mythology, Antaeus was a giant who was strong as long as he had contact with the earth. When he was lifted from the earth he lost strength. So it is with engineers. They must not become isolated from the real world.
creativity men frustration
We bury the men who do the nation's creative work under layers of administrators and mountains of memoranda. We shrivel creativity by endless frustrations.