# Beguiling Events > A system is a big black box > Of which we can't unlock the locks, > And all we can find out about > Is what goes in and what comes out. > Perceiving input-output pairs, > Related by parameters, > Permits us, sometimes, to relate > An input, output, and state. > If this relation's good and stable > Then to predict we may be able, > But if this fails us -- heaven forbid! > We'll be compelled to force the lid! > - _Kenneth Boulding, economist_ **** ## Source - [[Thinking in Systems]] ## Related - [[What is a System]]