Mathematics Quotes by Edsger Dijkstra

9 Mathematics quotes by Edsger Dijkstra

All Mathematics quotes Edsger Dijkstra’s page

Edsger Dijkstra’s nine notes on Mathematics cut to the core of logical thinking, emphasizing clean, unambiguous reasoning.

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Mathematicians are like managers - they want improvement without change.

Edsger Dijkstra

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There should be no such thing as boring mathematics.

Edsger Dijkstra

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Too few people recognize that the high technology so celebrated today is essentially a mathematical technology.

Edsger Dijkstra

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Many mathematicians derive part of their self-esteem by feeling themselves the proud heirs of a long tradition of rational thinking; I am…

Edsger Dijkstra

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Programming is one of the most difficult branches of applied mathematics; the poorer mathematicians had better remain pure mathematicians.

Edsger Dijkstra

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The traditional mathematician recognizes and appreciates mathematical elegance when he sees it. I propose to go one step further, and to consider…

Edsger Dijkstra

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When I came back from Munich, it was September, and I was Professor of Mathematics at the Eindhoven University of Technology. Later…

Edsger Dijkstra

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So-called "natural language" is wonderful for the purposes it was created for, such as to be rude in, to tell jokes in,…

Edsger Dijkstra

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Yes, I share your concern: how to program well -though a teachable topic- is hardly taught. The situation is similar to that…

Edsger Dijkstra

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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

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The computing scientist's main challenge is not to get confused by the complexities of his own making.

Edsger Dijkstra

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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

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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

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Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons.

Edsger Dijkstra

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Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.

Edsger Dijkstra

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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

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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

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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

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Brainpower is by far our scarcest resource.

Edsger Dijkstra

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Programming in Basic causes brain damage.

Edsger Dijkstra

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Several people have told me that my inability to suffer fools gladly is one of my main weaknesses.

Edsger Dijkstra

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I now have had my foggy crystal ball for quite a long time. Its predictions are invariably gloomy and usually correct, but I am…

Edsger Dijkstra

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In this respect a program is like a poem: you cannot write a poem without writing it. Yet people talk about programming as if…

Edsger Dijkstra

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About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do…

Edsger Dijkstra

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