Thoughts on Engineering:
It's a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of
the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it
moves a realization in stone or metal or energy. Then it brings jobs and homes t
o men. Then it elevates the standards of living and adds to the comforts of
life. That is the engineer's high privilege.
The great liability of the engineer compared to men of other professions is
that his works are out in the open where all can see them. His acts, step by
step, are in hard substance. He cannot bury his mistakes in the grave like
the doctors. He cannot argue them into thin air or blame the jury like the
lawyers. He cannot, like the politicians, screen his shortcomings by blaming
his opponents and hope the people will forget. The engineer simply cannot
deny he did it. If his works do not work, he is damned.
On the other hand, unlike the doctor, he is not a life among the weak. Unlike
the soldier, destruction is not his purpose. Unlike the lawyer, quarrels are
not his daily bread. To the engineer falls the job of clothing the bare bones
of science with life, comfort and hope. No doubt as years go by the people
forget which engineer did it, or even if they ever knew. Or some politician
puts his name on it. Or they credit it to some promoter who used other people's
money... But the engineer himself looks back at the unending stream of
goodness which flows from his successes with satisfaction that few professions
may know. And the verdict of his fellow professionals is all the accolade he
wants.
Herbert Hoover, 31st President of USA