--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One can't proceed from the informal to…" description: "\"One can't proceed from the informal to the formal by formal means.\" — Alan Perlis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/alan-perlis-11812_formal_one-can-t-proceed-from-the-informal-to-t_2657664.png" --- # One can't proceed from the informal to the formal by… ![“One can't proceed from the informal to the formal by formal means.” quote by Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/alan-perlis-11812_formal_one-can-t-proceed-from-the-informal-to-t_2657664.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/alan-perlis-11812_formal_one-can-t-proceed-from-the-informal-to-t_2657664.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/alan-perlis-11812_formal_one-can-t-proceed-from-the-informal-to-t_2657664.png) > “One can't proceed from the informal to the formal by formal means.” [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Formal methods cannot replace informal insight; understanding must precede rigor. **In simple terms:** Formal tools need informal intuition first. Key Takeaway Cultivate intuition before formalizing. Themes programming formal methods intuition Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - software design - education - problem solving Key Concepts logic abstraction human cognition Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance intuition and formalism? - When is informality essential? A Different Perspective Formal tools alone may miss creative insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Formal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formal/) [Formal Formal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formal-formal-2401346/) [Formal Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formal-means-2401345/) [Informal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/informal/) [Informal Formal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/informal-formal-2401344/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Proceed Informal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proceed-informal-2401347/) ## Related quotes > [But there's always a Mass. It's not a formal Mass at all. 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Informal learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-cross/formal-learning-is-like-riding-a-bus-the-driver-decides-where-the-bus/) [Jay Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-cross/) > [Writers who hedge their use of unfamiliar, infrequent, or informal words with 'I know that's not a real word,' hoping to distance themselves from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mckean/writers-who-hedge-their-use-of-unfamiliar-infrequent-or-informal/) [Erin McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mckean/) > [When I had photographed Prince William's mother, I brought along a CD of Dalida, a French singer, that we played on set all day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-testino/when-i-had-photographed-prince-william-s-mother-i-brought-along-a-cd/) [Mario Testino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-testino/) > [Judging by informal observation, most young Americans burn up their spare time buffing their emotional IQ and self-esteem with social media and non-stop texting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/judging-by-informal-observation-most-young-americans-burn-up-their/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [“We need ways to validate and support our thinking, no matter how informal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/we-need-ways-to-validate-and-support-our-thinking-no-matter-how/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [I certainly think that the publishing houses have to learn more about this informal network of literary blogging and get over the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/i-certainly-think-that-the-publishing-houses-have-to-learn-more-about/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) ## More by Alan Perlis > [You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/you-can-measure-a-programmer-s-perspective-by-noting-his-attitude-on/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [In English every word can be verbed. Would that it were so in our programming languages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/in-english-every-word-can-be-verbed-would-that-it-were-so-in-our/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [LISP programmers know the value of everything and the cost of nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/lisp-programmers-know-the-value-of-everything-and-the-cost-of-nothing/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [I think that it's extraordinarily important that we in computer science keep fun in computing. When it started out, it was an awful lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/i-think-that-it-s-extraordinarily-important-that-we-in-computer/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/simplicity-does-not-precede-complexity-but-follows-it/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [Optimization hinders evolution. Everything should be built top-down, except the first time. Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/optimization-hinders-evolution-everything-should-be-built-top-down/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [The computing field is always in need of new cliches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/the-computing-field-is-always-in-need-of-new-cliches/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [Fools ignore complexity. Pragmatists suffer it. Some can avoid it. Geniuses remove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/fools-ignore-complexity-pragmatists-suffer-it-some-can-avoid-it/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [A programming language is low level when its programs require attention to the irrelevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/a-programming-language-is-low-level-when-its-programs-require/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [Syntactic sugar causes cancer of the semicolon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/syntactic-sugar-causes-cancer-of-the-semicolon/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [When a professor insists computer science is X but not Y, have compassion for his graduate students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/when-a-professor-insists-computer-science-is-x-but-not-y-have/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [A year spent in artificial intelligence is enough to make one believe in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/a-year-spent-in-artificial-intelligence-is-enough-to-make-one-believe/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [In software systems it is often the early bird that makes the worm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/in-software-systems-it-is-often-the-early-bird-that-makes-the-worm/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [In man-machine symbiosis, it is man who must adjust: The machines can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/in-man-machine-symbiosis-it-is-man-who-must-adjust-the-machines-can-t/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [Every program has two purposes: The one for which it was written and another for which it wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/every-program-has-two-purposes-the-one-for-which-it-was-written-and/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) [Explore all 57 Alan Perlis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) ## More Formal quotes > [I've never had anything as formal as vocal lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-nutini/i-ve-never-had-anything-as-formal-as-vocal-lessons/) [Paolo Nutini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-nutini/) > [ While I have devised various formal strategies for articulating \[my\] concerns, I think fundamentally the work is driven by a basic curiosity. I seek… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawoud-bey/while-i-have-devised-various-formal-strategies-for-articulating-my/) [Dawoud Bey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawoud-bey/) > [I would love a sandwich,' said Tybalt, with enough gravity to make it sound like a formal proclamation. Resolved: that we will have ham…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-love-a-sandwich-said-tybalt-with-enough-gravity-to-make-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The cocktail party - as the name itself indicates - was originally invented by dogs. They are simply bottom-sniffings raised to the rank of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/the-cocktail-party-as-the-name-itself-indicates-was-originally/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) > [I am going to get political on you. Because I am the most shallow person in the world, my mission is to see men's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cojocaru/i-am-going-to-get-political-on-you-because-i-am-the-most-shallow/) [Steven Cojocaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cojocaru/) > [There are thus two tasks for the Mass Media division of Unesco, the one general, the other special. The special one is to enlist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/there-are-thus-two-tasks-for-the-mass-media-division-of-unesco-the/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [There's no way a photograph has to look... in a sense. There are no formal rules of design that can apply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/there-s-no-way-a-photograph-has-to-look-in-a-sense-there-are-no/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [“Mysteries are facts that haven't been formalized.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/mysteries-are-facts-that-haven-t-been-formalized/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [You know, ballet might be too formal of a title for the type of dance I do, but I love to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/you-know-ballet-might-be-too-formal-of-a-title-for-the-type-of-dance/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [The job of formal methods is to elucidate the assumptions upon which formal correctness depends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/the-job-of-formal-methods-is-to-elucidate-the-assumptions-upon-which/) [Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/) > [A formal manipulator in mathematics often experiences the discomforting feeling that his pencil surpasses him in intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-formal-manipulator-in-mathematics-often-experiences-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [Since this was a formal undead gathering, there would be food—all kinds—drinks, dancing, and festivities, while those in power pondered whether or not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/since-this-was-a-formal-undead-gathering-there-would-be-food-all/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [We see an ever-increasing move toward inter and trans- disciplinary attacks upon problems in the real world ... The system scientist has a central…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-casti/we-see-an-ever-increasing-move-toward-inter-and-trans-disciplinary/) [John L. Casti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-casti/) > [It is rational to choose the right means to your ends to develop very elegant abstract formal theories of rational choice, and then turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-rational-to-choose-the-right-means-to-your-ends-to-develop-very/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) [Browse all 721 Formal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One can't proceed from the informal to the formal by formal means.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Perlis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/one-can-t-proceed-from-the-informal-to-the-formal-by-formal-means/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Formal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/one-can-t-proceed-from-the-informal-to-the-formal-by-formal-means/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/alan-perlis-11812_formal_one-can-t-proceed-from-the-informal-to-t_2657664.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/alan-perlis-11812_formal_one-can-t-proceed-from-the-informal-to-t_2657664.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/alan-perlis-11812_formal_one-can-t-proceed-from-the-informal-to-t_2657664.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One can't proceed from the informal to the formal by formal means.” — Alan Perlis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alan Perlis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One can't proceed from the informal...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/one-can-t-proceed-from-the-informal-to-the-formal-by-formal-means/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/one-can-t-proceed-from-the-informal-to-the-formal-by-formal-means/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```