LISP has jokingly been described as "the most intelligent way to misuse a computer." I think that description is a great compliment… — Edsger Dijkstra Compliment Copy Share Image
The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense. — Edsger Dijkstra Education Copy Share Image
I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because these days, excellence is a fashionable concept. But excellence is a competitive notion, and that… — Edsger Dijkstra Competitive spirit Copy Share Image
Object-oriented programming is an exceptionally bad idea which could only have originated in California. — Edsger Dijkstra Bad idea Copy Share Image
Thanks to the greatly improved possibility of communication, we overrate its importance. Even stronger, we underrate the importance of isolation. — Edsger Dijkstra Communication Copy Share Image
Elegance is not a dispensable luxury but a factor that decides between success and failure. — Edsger Dijkstra Beauty Copy Share Image
I don't need to waste my time with a computer just because I am a computer scientist. — Edsger Dijkstra Computer Copy Share Image
Some consider the puzzles that are created by their omissions as spicy challenges, without which their texts would be boring; others shun… — Edsger Dijkstra Boring Copy Share Image
When building sand castles on the beach, we can ignore the waves but should watch the tide. — Edsger Dijkstra Beach Copy Share Image
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 Activity Copy Share Image
When we take the position that it is not only the programmer's responsibility to produce a correct program but also to demonstrate… — Edsger Dijkstra Activity Copy Share Image
Perfecting oneself is as much unlearning as it is learning. — Edsger Dijkstra Learning Copy Share Image
The effort of using machines to mimic the human mind has always struck me as rather silly. I would rather use them… — Edsger Dijkstra Computers Copy Share Image
John von Neumann draws attention to what seemed to him a contrast. He remarked that for simple mechanisms, it is often easier… — Edsger Dijkstra Attention Copy Share Image
Mathematicians are like managers - they want improvement without change. — Edsger Dijkstra Change Copy Share Image
Beware of "the real world". A speaker's apeal to it is always an invitation not to challenge his tacit assumptions. — Edsger Dijkstra Assumption Copy Share Image
When I came back from Munich, it was September, and I was Professor of Mathematics at the Eindhoven University of Technology. Later… — Edsger Dijkstra Analysts Copy Share Image
PL/1, the fatal disease, belongs more to the problem set than to the solution set. — Edsger Dijkstra Disease Copy Share Image
In passing I draw attention to another English expression which often occurs in Dutch texts: "the real world". In Dutch - and… — Edsger Dijkstra Attention Copy Share Image
A convincing demonstration of correctness being impossible as long as the mechanism is regarded as a black box, our only hope lies… — Edsger Dijkstra Black Copy Share Image
The traditional mathematician recognizes and appreciates mathematical elegance when he sees it. I propose to go one step further, and to consider… — Edsger Dijkstra Beauty Copy Share Image
APL is a mistake, carried through to perfection. It is the language of the future for the programming techniques of the past:… — Edsger Dijkstra Failure Copy Share Image
The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim. — Edsger Dijkstra Computers Copy Share Image
