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Long Quote by Donald Knuth

“I've never been a good estimator of how long things are going to take.” quote by Donald Knuth
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“I've never been a good estimator of how long things are going to take.”

Donald Knuth

About This Quote

Source Book: The Art of Computer Programming, 1968

I consistently underestimate how long tasks will take, leading to inaccurate schedules.

In simple terms: I’m bad at estimating time.

Key Takeaway

Plan buffers and review past estimates.

Themes

productivity planning software development

Mood

practical analytical

Type

technical advisory

When to use this quote

  • software projects
  • personal tasks
  • team coordination

Key Concepts

estimation bias project management

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we tend to be over‑optimistic?
  • How can we improve estimation accuracy?
A Different Perspective

Estimates often ignore unforeseen complexities.

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