---
title: "4 Computer science Quotes By Edsger Dijkstra"
description: "4 Computer science quotes by Edsger Dijkstra. Plus more from Edsger Dijkstra and more Computer science sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/edsger-dijkstra-5102_astronomy_computer-science-is-no-more-about-comput_134317.png"
---

> [Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/computer-science-is-no-more-about-computers-than-astronomy-is-about/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/edsger-dijkstra-5102_astronomy_computer-science-is-no-more-about-comput_134317.png)

> [Computer science has as much to do with computers as astronomy has to do with telescopes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/computer-science-has-as-much-to-do-with-computers-as-astronomy-has-to/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/edsger-dijkstra-5102_astronomy_computer-science-has-as-much-to-do-with_1251874.png)

> [\[Though computer science is a fairly new discipline, it is predominantly based on the Cartesian world view. As Edsgar W. Dijkstra has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/though-computer-science-is-a-fairly-new-discipline-it-is/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/edsger-dijkstra-5102_aspect_though-computer-science-is-a-fairly-new_1280947.png)

> [Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes, biology is about microscopes or chemistry is about beakers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/computer-science-is-no-more-about-computers-than-astronomy-is-about-2/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/edsger-dijkstra-5102_astronomy_computer-science-is-no-more-about-comput_1438116.png)

## Other authors on Computer science

- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b010/author-frederick-lenz-36205.jpg) Frederick Lenz 24 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-science/frederick-lenz/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b008/author-donald-knuth-30007.jpg) Donald Knuth 9 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-science/donald-knuth/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b003/author-alfred-e-perlman-11279.jpg) Kimberly Bryant 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-science/kimberly-bryant/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b005/author-bill-gates-17911.jpg) Bill Gates 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-science/bill-gates/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b003/author-alan-kay-10336.jpg) Alan Kay 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-science/alan-kay/)

## More by Edsger Dijkstra

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/production-speed-is-severely-slowed-down-if-one-works-with-half-time/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [The computing scientist's main challenge is not to get confused by the complexities of his own making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-computing-scientist-s-main-challenge-is-not-to-get-confused-by/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [Probably I am very naive, but I also think I prefer to remain so, at least for the time being and perhaps for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/probably-i-am-very-naive-but-i-also-think-i-prefer-to-remain-so-at/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/in-the-good-old-days-physicists-repeated-each-other-s-experiments/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/don-t-compete-with-me-firstly-i-have-more-experience-and-secondly-i/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/computer-science-is-no-more-about-computers-than-astronomy-is-about/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [The use of anthropomorphic terminology forces you linguistically to adopt an operational view. And it makes it practically impossible to argue about programs independently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-use-of-anthropomorphic-terminology-forces-you-linguistically-to/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [Teaching to unsuspecting youngsters the effective use of formal methods is one of the joys of life because it is so extremely rewarding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/teaching-to-unsuspecting-youngsters-the-effective-use-of-formal/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/please-don-t-fall-into-the-trap-of-believing-that-i-am-terribly/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [Brainpower is by far our scarcest resource.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/brainpower-is-by-far-our-scarcest-resource/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [Programming in Basic causes brain damage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/programming-in-basic-causes-brain-damage/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [Several people have told me that my inability to suffer fools gladly is one of my main weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inability-to-suffer-fools-gladly/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [I now have had my foggy crystal ball for quite a long time. Its predictions are invariably gloomy and usually correct, but I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/i-now-have-had-my-foggy-crystal-ball-for-quite-a-long-time-its/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [In this respect a program is like a poem: you cannot write a poem without writing it. Yet people talk about programming as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/in-this-respect-a-program-is-like-a-poem-you-cannot-write-a-poem/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

> [About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossible-to-sharpen-a-pencil-with-a/)

[Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/)

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