Richard Hamming

Science is composed of laws which were originally based on a small, carefully selected set of observations, often not very accurately measured…

— Richard Hamming

Typing is no substitute for thinking.

— Richard Hamming

Mathematics is an interesting intellectual sport but it should not be allowed to stand in the way of obtaining sensible information about…

— Richard Hamming

Given two people with exactly the same ability, the one person who manages day in and day out to get in one…

— Richard Hamming

“It is not easy to become an educated person.”

— Richard Hamming

The purpose of computing is insight, not numbers.

— Richard Hamming

Mathematicians stand on each others' shoulders and computer scientists stand on each others' toes.

— Richard Hamming

What are the important problems of your field?

— Richard Hamming

In mathematics we do not appeal to authority, but rather you are responsible for what you believe.

— Richard Hamming

Beware of finding what you're looking for. A favorite aphorism he often used.

— Richard Hamming

Mathematics is not merely an idle art form, it is an essential part of our society.

— Richard Hamming

Perhaps the central problem we face in all of computer science is how we are to get to the situation where we…

— Richard Hamming

One of the characteristics of successful scientists is having courage.

— Richard Hamming

There are wavelengths that people cannot see, there are sounds that people cannot hear, and maybe computers have thoughts that people cannot…

— Richard Hamming

“The more you know, the more you learn; the more you learn, the more you can do; the more you can do,…

— Richard Hamming

Computer scientists stand on each other's feet.

— Richard Hamming

Knowledge and productivity are like compound interest. The more you know, the more you learn; the more you learn, the more you…

— Richard Hamming

He who works with the door open gets all kinds of interruptions, but he also occasionally gets clues as to what the…

— Richard Hamming

A parable: A man was examining the construction of a cathedral. He asked a stone mason what he was doing chipping the…

— Richard Hamming

Most of the time each person is immersed in the details of one special part of the whole and does not think…

— Richard Hamming

“Vicarious learning from the experiences of others saves making errors yourself, but I regard the study of successes as being basically more…

— Richard Hamming

“The purpose of computation is insight, not numbers.”

— Richard Hamming

The real problem is what can man and machine do together and not in competition.

— Richard Hamming

You can tell other people all the alibis you want. I don't mind. But to yourself try to be honest.

— Richard Hamming

Luck favors the prepared mind.

— Richard Hamming