makes you feel good to be an engineer

huangyhg

makes you feel good to be an engineer . . .
i don't know where i found this, but i feel that everyone in this forum deserves to read the following quote.
engineering -- "ours is 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 to realization in stone or metal or energy.  then it brings jobs and homes to 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 doctors.  he cannot argue them into thin air or blame the judge like lawyers.  he cannot, like the architects, cover his failures with trees and vines.  he cannot, like the politicians, screen his shortcomings by blaming his opponents and hope 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, his 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 will forget which engineer did it, even if they knew. . . . but the engineer himself looks back at the unending stream of goodness which flows from his successes with satisfactions that few professions may know.  and the verdict of his fellow professionals is all the accolade he wants."   

president herbert hoover
few of facts about president hoover:
1. he was born in west branch, iowa on august 10, 1874
2. president hoover was a mining engineer and land surveyor.
3. he worked in australia as surveyor for a while.
4. he was licensed professional engineer!
5. after his presidency he contributed the following:
a.was honorary chair of the boys clubs of america
b.authored/wrote over 40 books
c.delivered speeches relating to public issues
d.he cofounder of unicef and care
i know this and more because i visited his library and museum, while on business trip, in west branch, iowa.
epr,
thanks for a dose of inspiration!  in the heat of the daily battle, it is good to reflect on why we do what we do.
nice job.  thanks!
nice quote; however, i haven't seen too many buildings covered with vines or trees.  i think he was a little off the mark their.  maybe in hoover's day hiding poor architecture with vines was common.
andy