"Objects are a form of knowledge about how to satisfy certain requirements, about how to perform certain tasks. And they are a form of knowledge that is available to everyone; one does not have to understand mechanics, nor metallurgy, nor the molecular structure of timber, to know that an axe offers (or 'explains') a very effective way of splitting wood. Of course, explicit knowledge about objects and about how they function has become available, and has sometimes led to significant improvements in the design of the objects. But in general, 'invention comes before theory'—the world of 'doing and making' is usually ahead of the world of understanding—technology leads to science, not vice versa as is often believed.
"Invention comes before theory," I like that.