Compliment Quote by Edsger Dijkstra
“LISP has jokingly been described as "the most intelligent way to misuse a computer." I think that description is a great compliment because it transmits the full flavour of liberation: it has assisted a number of our most gifted fellow humans in thinking previously impossible thoughts.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Edsger Dijkstra on programming languages, 1970s
LISP is praised for its expressive power, allowing creative problem solving beyond conventional computing.
In simple terms: LISP enables creative, unconventional thinking.
Key Takeaway
Embrace tools that expand thought.
Themes
creativity
programming
innovation
Mood
enthusiastic
intellectual
Type
technical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- software design
- academic research
- algorithm development
- teaching programming
Key Concepts
functional programming
expressive power
computational thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How does LISP reshape problem solving?
- What freedoms does its flexibility offer?
A Different Perspective
Its steep learning curve can deter newcomers.
![“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)
