Competitive Quote by Edsger Dijkstra
“I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because these days, excellence is a fashionable concept. But excellence is a competitive notion, and that is not what we are heading for: we are heading for perfection.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Art of Programming”, 1972
Excellence is inherently competitive, but true aim should be flawless perfection.
In simple terms: Excellence competes; perfection does not.
Key Takeaway
Strive for flawless outcomes, not just superior ones.
Themes
perfection
excellence
competition
philosophy
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
theoretical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- software development
- product design
- personal growth
- education
Key Concepts
Systems theory
ethical standards
Questions to Reflect On
- Can perfection be a realistic goal?
- How does competition affect quality?
A Different Perspective
Perfection can be unattainable and stifle innovation.
![“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 are making a religion out of it, as if the conceptual problems of programming could be solved by a single trick, by a simple form of coding discipline!” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ad/edsger-dijkstra-5102_believe_please-don-t-fall-into-the-trap-of-belie_167695.jpg)
