Boring but Practical/Quotes

Collot d'Herbois, incredulous, half-contemptuous, did not altogether approve of these schemes, which seemed to him wild and uncanny; he liked the direct simplicity of a summary trial, of the guillotine, or of his own well stage-managed "Noyades."

—The Elusive Pimpernel

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."

—Bruce Lee

So many in the UNDF disparage the seeming technological disparity between the UNDF and the covenant. But those who truly understand war knows that it is not the flashiest or shiniest new piece piece of technology that delivers, but rather it's the ones that does nothing more than getting the job done when coupled with the skill of the user. More often than not, low tech is the best tech.

—Halo: the Art of War

[The staff weapon] is a weapon of terror; it's made to intimidate the enemy. [The P90] is a weapon of war; it's made to kill your enemy.

—Colonel O'Neill, Stargate SG-1

There are two kinds of scientific progress: the methodical experimentation and categorization which gradually extend the boundaries of knowledge, and the revolutionary leap of genius which redefines and transcends those boundaries. Acknowledging our debt to the former, we yearn, nonetheless, for the latter.

—Academician Prokhor Zakharov, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri

You should practice diligently with the bamboo sword every day. Superiority is not just a matter of secret techniques.

—Hagakure

Roy: I'll take dull efficiency over exciting uncertainty any day of the week.

Belkar: Obviously, your girlfriend feels the same way. Surprise burn!

—The Order of the Stick

"..in defense of the recent Survivor seasons, honestly I can't say that I blame them. They're there to win. people setting up elaborate plans that fall flat on their faces in front of them one by one, engineering the votes in a way that even if they don't go your way, they still eliminate a potential threat and not an ally, dramatic power shifts, people who try their hardest at every challenge, do make an interesting show to watch. Except that most of those people don't win, they either lose control or are sniffed out as a threat and are subsequently voted out. Meanwhile, Pagonging, making people think you're dumber than you actually are, and simply keeping your mouth shut has been proven on numerous times to get you further in the game and oftentimes even winning. Given that these guys are here to win, I can't say that I blame them for wanting to just do a strategy that makes for a dull show, but wins them the game or gets them really far without getting medevaced or simply dropped when you're not of use to the people who've taken control. What makes a good game does not always make a good show, and what makes a good show does not always make a good game."

—A Post at Survivor Sucks.

The 21st century jury-rigger will no doubt be familiar with baling wire, bondo, and duct tape. By the 31st century, these materials have evolved significantly, but are still recognizeable.
Baling wire, for instance, has largely been overshadowed by malleable carbonan/polymer superfilaments, which are at least ten times stronger, and something like 100 times more expensive. For this reason, many 31st-century jury-riggers will choose the economical route, and just use five times as much baling wire.

— Schlock Mercenary from January 6, 2002