Maintenance of Everything Quotes

“Repair is nearly always a disruptive intervention in an intricate system. Some of history’s worst disasters came from mismanaged maintenance. A bungled routine system test caused the nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl in 1986. The catastrophic fire at Notre-Dame cathedral in 2019 came during a renovation of the badly rotted spire. In hospitals”
― Stewart Brand, Maintenance of Everything: Part One

“Engineers at the Naval Research Laboratory composed an ode to the paint on their nuclear submarines: The purpose of the hull is to protect the paint. The purpose of the reactor is to drive the paint around. The purpose of the SUBSAFE program is to ensure the paint comes to the surface and will not be lost. The purpose of the cathodic protection system is to back up the paint. The purpose of the weapons is to defend the paint. The purpose of the Special Hull Treatment is to protect the paint. The purpose of the Vertical Launch System is to destroy those who would do the paint harm.196”
― Stewart Brand, Maintenance of Everything: Part One

“He overprepared for what he knew well and underprepared for nearly everything else.”
― Stewart Brand, Maintenance of Everything: Part One

“For the billion people who live in shantytowns throughout the developing world”
― Stewart Brand, Maintenance of Everything: Part One

“Only the rich can afford to be stupid; for others, ability is a necessity, not an option.”
― Stewart Brand, Maintenance of Everything: Part One