Thoughts arising from practical experience may be a bridle or a spur.

All men are by nature conservative but conservatism in the military profession is a source of danger to the country. One must be ready to change his line sharply and suddenly, with no concern for the prejudices and memories of what was yesterday. To rest upon formula is a slumber that, prolonged, means death.

Act as if you are going to live for ever and cast your plans way ahead. You must feel responsible without time limitations, and the consideration of whether you may or may not be around to see the results should never enter your thoughts.

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.

Trying to make things work in government is sometimes like trying to sew a button on a custard pie.

Optimism and stupidity are nearly synonymous.

All new ideas begin in a non-conforming mind that questions some tenet of the conventional wisdom.