Ability Quote by Edsger Dijkstra
“The ability of discerning high quality unavoidably implies the ability of identifying shortcomings.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Selected Writings by Edsger Dijkstra, 1976
Recognizing excellence inevitably requires noticing flaws in order to distinguish true quality.
In simple terms: Goodness reveals its opposite.
Key Takeaway
Seek both strengths and weaknesses.
Themes
quality
critical thinking
excellence
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
philosophical
instructive
When to use this quote
- product design
- software review
- academic assessment
- personal growth
Key Concepts
philosophy
evaluation
standards
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance praise with critique?
- What standards define high quality?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on flaws may discourage 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)
