The purpose and real value of systems engineering is... to keep going — Robert E. Machol

"There comes a time when one must stop suggesting and evaluating new solutions, and get on with the job of analyzing and implementing one pretty good solution."

"[Systems should be classified] on the basis of the types of inputs with which they must cope."

"Every large-scale system is an . The automatic factory, the vehicular-traffic system, any military system- in the design of all these systems, primary attention should be given to the flow of information about the elements of the system."

"If the assumptions are wrong, the conclusions arent likely to be very good."

"Scientists possess healthy skepticism. They realize that youve got to know the answer before you measure it."

"We have discovered in this past decade that thinking, and decision, are not solely the province of the metaphysicist, but are appropriate subjects for scientific inquiry."