On incorrect morals.

[brooksmoses]

For want of a nail, the horseshoe was lost.
For want of a horseshoe, the horse was lost.
For want of a horse, the wagon was lost.
For want of a wagon, the supplies were lost.
For want of supplies, the outpost was lost.
For want of an outpost, the expedition was lost.

This is usually read as a parable about the importance of horseshoe nails.

This is incorrect. This is a parable about the importance of safety factors at all levels of one's supply chain.

Comments

[green_knight]

That's a *very* American version of the saying, and not one I've encountered before.

[brooksmoses]

I had forgotten how it went exactly after the horse, and figured that there were enough variants already that I could just make one up. I'm amused that it came out so very recognizably American, though!

[tendyl.livejournal.com]

I'd agree with that. You need all (or at least a damned good majority of) the pieces for something to be successful.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Yes - or alternatives and contingency plans and so forth.

I've never seen the moral as being about nails, per se - interconnectedness, how tiny changes can multiply, and, yes, importance of sound supply chains.