"An engineer is a man who can do for five bob what any bloody fool can do for a quid."

I was scratching around today  for the origin of this quote, or even how the exact quote ought to go. A bit of googling this evening solved it. It was Neville Shute - apparently! At least the quote comes from one of his books, and is probably something he might have said.

http://www.nevilshute.org/Biography/alanbesterbio.php

Just in case anyone's struggling with the "old money" - there were twenty bob in a quid. If anyone is struggling with the social conventions of the day, well I don't suppose women were included in the bloody fools either, but in any case, take it to your local chapter... nothing to see here.