Status-Q

The origins of Hanlon’s Razor

Following on from his email explaining Hanlon’s Razor, Joe Biglen has been in touch again with the precise details.

The book I refer to is “Murphy’s Law book two: More reasons why things go
wrong!” by Arthur Bloch…

The exact quote from the book is “Never attribute to
malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” The razor appears on page 52 of the chapter entitled “Advanced Expertsmanship” The book was
printed in 1980, by Price/Stern/Sloan Publishers, Inc.

That sounds about the time Bob gave me the copy. I was still in the Air Force, but was home on leave from Japan. Hopefully, the copy he gave me will surface some day.

Thanks very much for asking about the quote. I had forgotten how hysterically funny this book is. Twenty-one years later, it is just as funny, if not more so.

Many thanks, Joe.