Robert E. Machol

"Everyone knows what engineering is. All that's left is to define systems, and I'm not fool enough to do that."

"Sometimes it is more difficult to formulate the criterion for a problem than to state the question itself."

"If the assumptions are wrong, the conclusions aren't likely to be very good."

"Mathematicians are there to find the constraints and to eliminate those things that aren't constraints... I know this will surprise many of you, but they are useful!"

"The conclusions of most good operations research studies are obvious."

"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."

"The ideal system engineer is an engineer thoroughly versed in his field but conversant with and knowledgeable of other fields. You have to have the capability and desire to become a 'six-month expert'…"

"Sometimes, where a complex problem can be illuminated by many tools, one can be forgiven for applying the one he knows best."