Success and Failure

My hands are free, but my mind hesitates.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Never make anything simple and efficient when a way can be found to make it complex and wonderful.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Ninety-Ninety Rule of Project Schedules: The first ninety percent of the task takes ninety percent of the time, and the last ten percent takes the other ninety percent.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Non-Reciprocal Laws of Expectations: Negative expectations yield negative results. Positive expectations yield negative results.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Nothing is difficult to those who have the will.

Unknown, (motto of the Dutch Poet's Society), in Success and Failure

Official Project Stages: (1) Uncritical Acceptance. (2) Wild Enthusiasm. (3) Dejected Disillusionment. (4) Total Confusion. (5) Search for the Guilty. (6) Punishment of the Innocent. (7) Promotion of the Non-participants.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Oliver's Law: Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Life's a bitch, and then she has puppies.

Unknown, in Life and Death and Success and Failure

Law of Probability Dispersal: Whatever it is that hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Every solution breeds new problems.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Every oak tree started out as a couple of nuts who decided to stand their ground.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Ever notice that even the busiest people are never too busy to tell you just how busy they are?

Unknown, in Success and Failure and Work and Recreation

Even if you aren't making money at your job, but doing something you love to do, you are a true success.

Unknown, in Success and Failure and Work and Recreation

Even a blind pig in a blizzard finds an acorn once in a while.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Ducharm's Axiom: If you view your problem closely enough you will recognize yourself as part of the problem.

Unknown, in Life and Death and Success and Failure

Do not believe in miracles -- rely on them.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Dealing with failure is easy: Work hard to improve. Success is also easy to handle: You've solved the wrong problem. Work hard to improve.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

DeVries' Dilemma: If you hit two keys on the typewriter, the one you don't want hits the paper.

Unknown, in Success and Failure

Cox's Philosophy: Life's a bitch, and then you die.

Unknown, in Life and Death and Success and Failure

What a strange game. The only winning move is not to play.

Unknown, (W.O.P.R. computer in War Games), in Success and Failure and War and Peace