It used to be the program's purpose to instruct our computers; it became the computer's purpose to execute our programs. — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
In their capacity as a tool, computers will be but a ripple on the surface of our culture. In their capacity as… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
If we wish to count lines of code, we should not regard them as 'lines produced' but as 'lines spent.' — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
Lisp has jokingly been called "the most intelligent way to misuse a computer". I think that description is a great compliment because… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
Computer science has as much to do with computers as astronomy has to do with telescopes. — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
[Though computer science is a fairly new discipline, it is predominantly based on the Cartesian world view. As Edsgar W. Dijkstra has… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes, biology is about microscopes or chemistry is about beakers and… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
LISP has jokingly been described as "the most intelligent way to misuse a computer." I think that description is a great compliment… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
I don't need to waste my time with a computer just because I am a computer scientist. — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
When we had no computers, we had no programming problem either. When we had a few computers, we had a mild programming… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
FORTRAN, the infantile disorder, by now nearly 20 years old, is hopelessly inadequate for whatever computer application you have in mind today:… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
Production speed is severely slowed down if one works with half-time people who have other obligations as well. This is at least a factor… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
The computing scientist's main challenge is not to get confused by the complexities of his own making. — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
Probably I am very naive, but I also think I prefer to remain so, at least for the time being and perhaps for the… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
In the good old days physicists repeated each other's experiments, just to be sure. Today they stick to FORTRAN, so that they can share… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons. — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes. — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
The use of anthropomorphic terminology forces you linguistically to adopt an operational view. And it makes it practically impossible to argue about programs independently… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
Teaching to unsuspecting youngsters the effective use of formal methods is one of the joys of life because it is so extremely rewarding. — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
Please don't fall into the trap of believing that I am terribly dogmatical about [the goto statement]. I have the uncomfortable feeling that others… — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
Several people have told me that my inability to suffer fools gladly is one of my main weaknesses. — Edsger Dijkstra Copy Share Image
