"When I see a slippery slope, my instinct is to build a terrace"

John McCarthy's quote speaks with the concept of taking a proactive approach to issue fixing. He is recommending that when confronted with a tight spot, it is better to take action and construct a balcony, rather than just allowing the circumstance to get worse. This metaphor of a slippery slope suggests that if one does not do something about it, the situation will only get worse. By constructing a terrace, McCarthy is recommending that one can take control of the scenario and develop a more stable platform from which to work. This idea of taking action and developing a more safe and secure structure is a valuable lesson for anybody wanting to deal with challenging problems. McCarthy's quote is a reminder that it is typically much better to do something about it and produce a more safe platform than to merely permit a situation to get worse.