---
title: "1 Language Just Quotes By Hal Abelson"
description: "1 Language Just quotes by Hal Abelson. Plus more from Hal Abelson and more Language Just sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/hal-abelson-36322_computer_first-we-want-to-establish-the-idea-that_97608.jpg"
---

> [First, we want to establish the idea that a computer language is not just a way of getting a computer to perform operations but rather that it is a novel formal medium for expressing ideas about methodology. Thus, programs must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/first-we-want-to-establish-the-idea-that-a-computer-language-is-not/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/hal-abelson-36322_computer_first-we-want-to-establish-the-idea-that_97608.jpg)

## More by Hal Abelson

> [First, we want to establish the idea that a computer language is not just a way of getting a computer to perform operations but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/first-we-want-to-establish-the-idea-that-a-computer-language-is-not/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [What's important is not just to develop the technology; it's to develop the processes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/what-s-important-is-not-just-to-develop-the-technology-it-s-to/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [Now, the reason that we think computer science is about computers is pretty much the same reason that the Egyptians thought geometry was about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/now-the-reason-that-we-think-computer-science-is-about-computers-is/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [A powerful programming language is more than just a means for instructing a computer to perform tasks. The language also serves as a framework…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/a-powerful-programming-language-is-more-than-just-a-means-for/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [Universities are meant to pass the torch of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/universities-are-meant-to-pass-the-torch-of-civilization/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [Applicants must also have extensive knowledge of Unix, although they should have sufficiently good programming taste to not consider this an achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/applicants-must-also-have-extensive-knowledge-of-unix-although-they/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [The computer revolution is a revolution in the way we think and in the way we express what we think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/the-computer-revolution-is-a-revolution-in-the-way-we-think-and-in/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [ \[Computer science\] is not really about computers and it's not about computers in the same sense that physics is not really about particle accelerators,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/computer-science-is-not-really-about-computers-and-it-s-not-about/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [The computer revolution is a revolution in the way we think and in the way we express what we think. The essence of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/the-computer-revolution-is-a-revolution-in-the-way-we-think-and-in-2/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [There's a good part of Computer Science that's like magic. Unfortunately there's a bad part of Computer Science that's like religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/there-s-a-good-part-of-computer-science-that-s-like-magic/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing on my shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/if-i-have-not-seen-as-far-as-others-it-is-because-giants-were/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [Congress is good at doing two things: one is nothing, and the other is overreacting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/congress-is-good-at-doing-two-things-one-is-nothing-and-the-other-is/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

> [We have also obtained a glimpse of another crucial idea about languages and program design. This is the approach of statified design, the notion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/we-have-also-obtained-a-glimpse-of-another-crucial-idea-about/)

[Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/)

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