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prior to the test proper, which he declined somewhat irritably, getting off on the wrong foot with the MX981 team. In an interview conducted by Nick Spark, George
Nichols, another engineer who was present, stated that Murphy blamed the failure on his assistant after the failed test, saying, "If that guy has any way of making a mistake, he will." Nichols' account is that "Murphy's law" came about through conversation among the other members of the team; it was condensed to "If it can happen, it will happen," and named for Murphy in mockery of what Nichols perceived as arrogance on Murphy's part. Others, including Edward Murphy's surviving son Robert Murphy, deny Nichols' account (which is supported by Hill, both interviewed by Spark), and claim that the phrase did originate with Edward Murphy. According to Robert Murphy's account, his father's statement was along the lines of "If there's more than one way to do a job, and one of those ways will result in disaster, then he will do it that way."
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430:, asking impressions on a photograph) with Theoretical Physicist number 3: "...As for himself he realized that this was the inexorable working of the second law of the thermodynamics which stated Murphy's law ‘If anything can go wrong it will’." Anne Roe's papers are in the American Philosophical Society archives in Philadelphia; those records (as noted by Stephen Goranson on the American Dialect Society list 12/31/2008) identify the interviewed physicist as Howard Percy "Bob" Robertson (1903–1961). Robertson's papers are at the
637:
attitude. One is sour, the other an affirmation of the predictable being surmountable, usually by sufficient planning and redundancy. Hill and
Nichols believe Murphy was unwilling to take the responsibility for the device's initial failure (by itself a blip of no large significance) and is to be doubly damned for not allowing the MX981 team time to validate the sensor's operability and for trying to blame an underling when doing so in the embarrassing aftermath.
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large numbers and indeterminate timescale there is the potential for every possible permutation to take place, and if allowed to continue indefinitely then it will definitely happen. In later publications "whatever can happen will happen" occasionally is termed "Murphy's law," which raises the possibility—if something went wrong—that "Murphy" is "De Morgan" misremembered (an option, among others, raised by
Goranson on American Dialect Society list).
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under consideration; he then summarized the law and said that in general, it meant that it was important to consider all the possibilities (possible things that could go wrong) before doing a test and act to counter them. Thus Stapp's usage and Murphy's alleged usage are very different in outlook and
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It is found that anything that can go wrong at sea generally does go wrong sooner or later, so it is not to be wondered that owners prefer the safe to the scientific .... Sufficient stress can hardly be laid on the advantages of simplicity. The human factor cannot be safely neglected in planning
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There have been persistent references to Murphy's law associating it with the laws of thermodynamics right from the very beginning (see the quotation from Anne Roe's book above).<ref name=Roe/> In particular, Murphy's law is often cited as a form of the ] (the law of entropy) because both are
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There have been persistent references to Murphy's law associating it with the laws of thermodynamics right from the very beginning (see the quotation from Anne Roe's book above).<ref name=Roe/> In particular, Murphy's law is often cited as a form of the ] (the law of entropy) because both are
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The sensors provided a zero reading; however, it became apparent that they had been installed incorrectly, with each sensor wired backwards. It was at this point that a disgusted Murphy made his pronouncement, despite being offered the time and chance to calibrate and test the sensor installation
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wrote on June 23, 1866: "The first experiment already illustrates a truth of the theory, well confirmed by practice, what-ever can happen will happen if we make trials long enough." EDIT - This is not so much attributed to
Murphys Law but is a staple of Mathematics and Physics. When dealing with
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attached to the restraining clamps of Stapp's harness to measure the force exerted on them by his rapid deceleration. Murphy was engaged in supporting similar research using high speed centrifuges to generate g-forces. Murphy's assistant wired the harness, and a trial was run using a
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573:, a U.S. Air Force colonel and Flight Surgeon in the 1950s. These conflicts (a long running interpersonal feud) were unreported until Spark researched the matter. His book expands upon and documents an original four part article published in 2003 (
652:, referred to: "Colonel Stapp's favorite takeoff on sober scientific laws—Murphy's law, Stapp calls it—'Everything that can possibly go wrong will go wrong'." The Mercury astronauts in 1962 attributed Murphy's law to U.S. Navy training films.
814:"Holt, Alfred. "Review of the Progress of Steam Shipping during the last Quarter of a Century," Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Vol. LI, Session 1877–78—Part I, at 2, 8 (November 13, 1877 session, published 1878)"
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There have been persistent references to Murphy's law associating it with the laws of thermodynamics right from the very beginning (see the quotation from Anne Roe's book above). In particular, Murphy's law is often cited as a form of the
569:. The phrase was coined in adverse reaction to something Murphy said when his devices failed to perform and was eventually cast into its present form prior to a press conference some months later — the first ever (of many) given by Dr.
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The perceived perversity of the universe has long been a subject of comment, and precursors to the modern version of Murphy's law are not hard to find. Recent significant research in this area has been conducted by members of the
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The phrase first received public attention during a press conference in which Stapp was asked how it was that nobody had been severely injured during the rocket sled tests. Stapp replied that it was because they always took
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predicting a tendency to a more disorganised state.<ref>Robert D. Handscombe, Eann A. Patterson, ''The
Entropy Vector: Connecting Science and Business'', p134, World Scientific, 2004, ISBN 981-238-571-1.</ref>
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predicting a tendency to a more disorganised state.<ref>Robert D. Handscombe, Eann A. Patterson, ''The
Entropy Vector: Connecting Science and Business'', p134, World Scientific, 2004, ISBN 981-238-571-1.</ref>
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caused him to remark – "If there is any way to do it wrong, he will" – referring to the technician who had wired the bridges at the Lab. I assigned Murphy's law to the statement and the associated variations.
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archives; there, in a letter
Robertson offers Roe an interview within the first three months of 1949 (as noted by Goranson on American Dialect Society list 5/9/2009). The Robertson interview apparently predated the
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A much more comprehensive, relevant and funny book called "The
Fortean Times Book Of Strange Deaths and Amazing Luck" has many more apt examples of Murphys law, although it was not written as such.
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A much more comprehensive, relevant and funny book called "The
Fortean Times Book Of Strange Deaths and Amazing Luck" has many more apt examples of Murphys law, although it was not written as such.
15:
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go wrong. Whether we must attribute this to the malignity of matter or to the total depravity of inanimate things, whether the exciting cause is hurry, worry, or what not, the fact remains.
615:. During the tests, questions were raised about the accuracy of the instrumentation used to measure the g-forces Captain Stapp was experiencing. Edward Murphy proposed using electronic
356:. ADS member Stephen Goranson has found a version of the law, not yet generalized or bearing that name, in a report by Alfred Holt at an 1877 meeting of an engineering society.
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The contemporary form of Murphy's law goes back as far as 1952, as an epigraph to a mountaineering book by John Sack, who described it as an "ancient mountaineering adage":
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It is an experience common to all men to find that, on any special occasion, such as the production of a magical effect for the first time in public, everything that
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he described as "Murphy's law or the fourth law of thermodynamics" (actually there were only three last I heard) which states: "If anything can go wrong, it will."
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on
February 12, 1955, saying "I hope it will be known as Strauss' law. It could be stated about like this: If anything bad can happen, it probably will."
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included the line "Murphy's law: If an aircraft part can be installed incorrectly, someone will install it that way," and Lloyd Mallan's book,
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The association with the 1948 incident is by no means secure. Despite extensive research, no trace of documentation of the saying as
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Klipstein, D. L. (August 1967). "The Contributions of Edsel Murphy to the Understanding of the Behaviour of Inanimate Objects".
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machinery. If attention is to be obtained, the engine must be such that the engineer will be disposed to attend to it.
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referred to "Reilly's law," which "states that in any scientific or engineering endeavor, anything that can go wrong
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has been found before 1951 (see above). The next citations are not found until 1955, when the May–June issue of
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From its initial public announcement, Murphy's law quickly spread to various technical cultures connected to
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Stores selling Volume I have not heard of Volume II; stores selling Volume II have run out of Volume I
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Stores selling Volume I have not heard of Volume II; stores selling Volume II have run out of Volume I
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series, prints a letter that he received from George E. Nichols, a quality assurance manager with the
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strapped to a seat on the sled, but subsequent tests were performed by Stapp, at that time an
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From 1948 to 1949, Stapp headed research project MX981 at Muroc Army Air Field (later renamed
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that, according to him, is the origination of Murphy's law, and first publicly recounted by
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American Dialect Society member Bill Mullins has found a slightly broader version of the
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865:"Maskelyne, Nevil. "The Art In Magic", ''The Magic Circular'', June 1908, p. 25"
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during rapid deceleration. The tests used a rocket sled mounted on a
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In May 1951, Anne Roe gives a transcript of an interview (part of a
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Murphy's Law: Lawyers: Wronging the Rights in the Legal Profession!
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Murphy's Law: Lawyers: Wronging the Rights in the Legal Profession!
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to Murphy's law and variations thereof. These include the original
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48 (2003) p. 169) to have occurred in or after June, 1949.
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The name "Murphy's law" was not immediately secure. A story by
943:"''Astounding Science-Fiction'', February 1955, p. 54"
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1313:"Tumbling toast, Murphy's Law and the Fundamental Constants"
964:"''Chicago Daily Tribune'', February 12, 1955, p. 5"
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Murphy's Law Book Two (more reasons why things go wrong!)
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which was malfunctioning due to an error in wiring the
488:. Nichols recalled an event that occurred in 1949 at
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Examples of the mathematical formula for Murphy's law
1247:, p134, World Scientific, 2004, ISBN 981-238-571-1.
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The Entropy Vector: Connecting Science and Business
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Murphy's law and other reasons why things go wrong!
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Murphy's Law, and Other Reasons Why Things Go WRONG
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Murphy's law and other reasons why things go wrong!
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579:
Why Everything You Know About Murphy's Law is Wrong
482:
Murphy's Law, and Other Reasons Why Things Go WRONG
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1185:Murphy's Law: Doctors: Malpractice Makes Perfect
689:Murphy's Law: Doctors: Malpractice Makes Perfect
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1341:— Why toasted bread lands buttered-side-down.
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1009:Rogers Dry Lake – National Historic Landmark
441:American Aviation Historical Society Journal
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1373:1955 term citation of phrase "Murphy's law"
1279:Paul Dickson (1981-05-18). "Murphy's law".
405:Anything that can possibly go wrong, does.
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604:at the end. Initial tests used a humanoid
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1402:Reference to 1941 citation of the proverb
1243:Robert D. Handscombe, Eann A. Patterson,
1157:three (wrong reasons why things go more!)
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341:Anything that can go wrong will go wrong
1411:tracks down the origins of Murphy's law
816:. Listserv.linguistlist.org. 2007-10-10
671:has compiled a number of books full of
167:→Other variations on Murphy's law
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1363:A collection of humorous Murphy's laws
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504:. An excerpt from the letter reads:
480:, in the first volume (1977) of his
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1634:Articles to be merged from May 2014
1348:for physics in 1996 for this work (
886:The Butcher: The Ascent of Yerupaja
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588:) for the purpose of testing the
273:Revision as of 10:37, 21 May 2014
134:Revision as of 10:37, 21 May 2014
90:Revision as of 10:33, 21 May 2014
656:Other variations on Murphy's law
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1409:Annals of Improbable Research
930:Genetic Psychology Monographs
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575:Annals of Improbable Research
439:scenario said by Nick Spark (
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339:that is typically stated as:
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1553:Parable of the broken window
1260:Nick T. Spark (2006-05-21).
1040:"Jargon File – Murphy's law"
708:second law of thermodynamics
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18:Browse history interactively
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1317:European Journal of Physics
1026:The Yale Book of Quotations
966:. Listserv.linguistlist.org
945:. Listserv.linguistlist.org
912:. Listserv.linguistlist.org
894:The Yale Book of Quotations
867:. Listserv.linguistlist.org
846:. Listserv.linguistlist.org
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650:Men, Rockets and Space Rats
646:Aviation Mechanics Bulletin
600:with a series of hydraulic
577:(AIR)) on the controversy:
516:. Frustration with a strap
290:It has been suggested that
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1613:Tyranny of small decisions
1337:10.1088/0143-0807/16/4/005
453:Astounding Science Fiction
428:Thematic Apperception Test
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1498:Excess burden of taxation
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1262:A History of Murphy's Law
997:The Fastest Man on Earth
745:Laws of infernal dynamics
551:A History of Murphy's Law
543:A History of Murphy's Law
514:Wright Field Aircraft Lab
486:Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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1311:Matthews, R A J (1995).
1011:at National Park Service
462:Atomic Energy Commission
354:American Dialect Society
321:Not to be confused with
307:Proposed since May 2014.
200:|authorlink=Arthur Bloch
193:|authorlink=Arthur Bloch
1583:Self-defeating prophecy
1447:Unintended consequences
1023:Shapiro, Fred R., ed.,
892:Shapiro, Fred R., ed.,
795:Unintended consequences
770:Precautionary principle
685:Murphy's Law Book Three
533:Association with Murphy
508:The law's namesake was
415:Yale Book of Quotations
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1608:Tragedy of the commons
1392:Murphy's Law of Combat
1344:Matthews received the
750:List of eponymous laws
586:Edwards Air Force Base
548:According to the book
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490:Edwards Air Force Base
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1558:Paradox of enrichment
1397:Murphy's Law's Origin
1368:1952 proverb citation
1159:. Price Stern Sloan.
1127:. Price Stern Sloan.
999:– Improbable Research
681:Murphy's Law Book Two
662:aerospace engineering
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471:Chicago Daily Tribune
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1528:Inverse consequences
1123:(31 December 1980).
412:, the editor of the
317:Template:Other uses2
300:into this article. (
1503:Four Pests campaign
1329:1995EJPh...16..172M
932:volume 43, page 204
1588:Self-refuting idea
1568:Perverse incentive
1383:Murphy's law entry
1281:The Official Rules
1264:. Periscope Film.
1153:Murphy's Law Book
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468:was quoted in the
367:Augustus De Morgan
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720:Confirmation bias
494:Muroc, California
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1538:Murphy's law
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1523:Hydra effect
1518:Hutber's law
1483:Cobra effect
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890:reprinted in
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884:Sack, John.
880:
869:. Retrieved
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780:Shit happens
755:Muphry's law
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1598:Social trap
1593:Serendipity
1493:Externality
1387:Jargon File
1067:. Methuen.
1029:529 (2006).
896:529 (2006).
775:Segal's law
673:corollaries
522:strain gage
379:stage magic
175:Next edit →
32:Next edit →
1628:Categories
1488:CSI effect
1103:|url=
1073:B001P0CURK
1046:2012-04-19
1042:. Catb.org
970:2012-04-19
949:2012-04-19
916:2012-04-19
871:2012-04-19
850:2012-04-19
820:2012-04-19
801:References
622:chimpanzee
571:John Stapp
554:by author
518:transducer
448:Lee Correy
1101:requires
1091:cite book
790:Sod's law
765:Pessimism
610:Air Force
564:eponymous
541:Cover of
464:Chairman
393:go wrong
293:Sod's law
118:→History
1350:see list
1151:(1982).
1063:(1977).
714:See also
594:g-forces
375:aphorism
185:Line 95:
182:Line 95:
56:Wikitext
1385:in the
1325:Bibcode
667:Author
613:captain
525:bridges
432:Caltech
347:History
337:epigram
302:Discuss
1639:Adages
1543:Nocebo
1287:
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1163:
1131:
1079:
1071:
691:, and
602:brakes
331:is an
298:merged
67:Inline
49:Visual
785:SNAFU
590:human
500:Col.
437:Muroc
333:adage
1407:The
1285:ISBN
1266:ISBN
1189:ISBN
1161:ISBN
1155:Four
1129:ISBN
1107:help
1077:ISBN
1069:ASIN
498:USAF
458:will
395:will
157:talk
143:undo
138:edit
108:talk
94:edit
1333:doi
391:can
335:or
296:be
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