--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: About the use of language: it is…" description: "\"About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do it with ten blunt axes instead.\" — Ed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/edsger-dijkstra-5102_blunt_about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossib_547182.png" --- # About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a… ![“About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do it with ten blunt axes instead.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/edsger-dijkstra-5102_blunt_about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossib_547182.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/edsger-dijkstra-5102_blunt_about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossib_547182.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/edsger-dijkstra-5102_blunt_about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossib_547182.png) > “About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do it with ten blunt axes instead.” [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to use an inadequate tool for a task is futile; using many inadequate tools doesn't improve the outcome. **In simple terms:** Wrong tools can't do the job, even in numbers. Key Takeaway Choose appropriate tools for the job. Themes problem solving tool selection efficiency Mood frustrated reflective Type advice metaphorical When to use this quote - coding - project planning - hardware repair - team coordination Key Concepts software engineering metaphor resource management Questions to Reflect On - What tool could replace the blunt axe? - How do you assess tool suitability? A Different Perspective Even with many tools, the fundamental mismatch remains. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Axes Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/axes-instead-4562241/) [Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blunt/) [Blunt Axe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blunt-axe-4562240/) [Blunt Axes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blunt-axes-4562239/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Sharpen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharpen/) [Sharpen Pencil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharpen-pencil-936999/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) ## Related quotes > [Once again, you show all the sensitivity of a blunt axe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-again-you-show-all-the-sensitivity-of-a-blunt-axe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Grab my paper and sharpen my… knife? Oh no, not that bizarre one. Pencil.. hell yeah, I need to sharpen my pencil cause I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniya/grab-my-paper-and-sharpen-my-knife-oh-no-not-that-bizarre-one-pencil/) [Daniya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniya/) > [“Can you sharpen this for me, please?” Logan leaned across the table and took the pencil from him. “You want me to play with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/can-you-sharpen-this-for-me-please-logan-leaned-across-the-table-and/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [I am only a little pencil in the hand of our Lord. He may cut or sharpen the pencil. He may write or draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-am-only-a-little-pencil-in-the-hand-of-our-lord-he-may-cut-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The thing I hear about a lot is when people over-sharpen their pencil with a single-blade pocket-sharpener and then when they put the pencil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rees/the-thing-i-hear-about-a-lot-is-when-people-over-sharpen-their-pencil/) [David Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rees/) > [Now I will give you a piece of advice. I will tell you something that I absolutely believe you should do, and if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ruefle/now-i-will-give-you-a-piece-of-advice-i-will-tell-you-something-that/) [Mary Ruefle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ruefle/) > [Within each individual young person you meet, you have the same fields to plow. The trick is just to wake thmem up, to sharpen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-fischer-dieskau/within-each-individual-young-person-you-meet-you-have-the-same-fields/) [Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-fischer-dieskau/) > [“ease up. the day was rued when we came upon it, or when it came upon us, and beheld us marring the horizon, sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/ease-up-the-day-was-rued-when-we-came-upon-it-or-when-it-came-upon-us/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [Meditation helps sharpen the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-christo/meditation-helps-sharpen-the-mind/) [Bob Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-christo/) > [“Who would sharpen a point aginst the darkness of the world?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/who-would-sharpen-a-point-aginst-the-darkness-of-the-world/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [“ADEPT ADAPTATION Potholes on the road of life sharpen our maneuverability skills Kamil Ali”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/adept-adaptation-potholes-on-the-road-of-life-sharpen-our/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [“Watch your dreams and watch our friends. Take time and watch your friend again with sharpened eyes. Turn on your dreams again; watch them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/watch-your-dreams-and-watch-our-friends-take-time-and-watch-your/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Need to sharpen my blade. Make it shiny, gleamy, and oh, so... deadly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/need-to-sharpen-my-blade-make-it-shiny-gleamy-and-oh-so-deadly/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Sharpen your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/sharpen-your-heart/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [If you don't take the time to sharpen your axe, you'll spend your whole life hacking away at missed opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-toth/if-you-don-t-take-the-time-to-sharpen-your-axe-you-ll-spend-your/) [Blake Toth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-toth/) ## More by Edsger Dijkstra > [Production speed is severely slowed down if one works with half-time people who have other obligations as well. This is at least a factor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/production-speed-is-severely-slowed-down-if-one-works-with-half-time/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [The computing scientist's main challenge is not to get confused by the complexities of his own making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-computing-scientist-s-main-challenge-is-not-to-get-confused-by/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Probably I am very naive, but I also think I prefer to remain so, at least for the time being and perhaps for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/probably-i-am-very-naive-but-i-also-think-i-prefer-to-remain-so-at/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [In the good old days physicists repeated each other's experiments, just to be sure. Today they stick to FORTRAN, so that they can share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/in-the-good-old-days-physicists-repeated-each-other-s-experiments/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/don-t-compete-with-me-firstly-i-have-more-experience-and-secondly-i/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/computer-science-is-no-more-about-computers-than-astronomy-is-about/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [The use of anthropomorphic terminology forces you linguistically to adopt an operational view. And it makes it practically impossible to argue about programs independently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-use-of-anthropomorphic-terminology-forces-you-linguistically-to/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Teaching to unsuspecting youngsters the effective use of formal methods is one of the joys of life because it is so extremely rewarding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/teaching-to-unsuspecting-youngsters-the-effective-use-of-formal/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/please-don-t-fall-into-the-trap-of-believing-that-i-am-terribly/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Brainpower is by far our scarcest resource.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/brainpower-is-by-far-our-scarcest-resource/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Programming in Basic causes brain damage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/programming-in-basic-causes-brain-damage/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Several people have told me that my inability to suffer fools gladly is one of my main weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inability-to-suffer-fools-gladly/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [I now have had my foggy crystal ball for quite a long time. Its predictions are invariably gloomy and usually correct, but I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/i-now-have-had-my-foggy-crystal-ball-for-quite-a-long-time-its/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [In this respect a program is like a poem: you cannot write a poem without writing it. Yet people talk about programming as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/in-this-respect-a-program-is-like-a-poem-you-cannot-write-a-poem/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [It used to be the program's purpose to instruct our computers; it became the computer's purpose to execute our programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/it-used-to-be-the-program-s-purpose-to-instruct-our-computers-it/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) [Explore all 103 Edsger Dijkstra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) ## More Blunt quotes > [Jazz is not something that can be defined through blunt instruments. It is much more poetic than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/jazz-is-not-something-that-can-be-defined-through-blunt-instruments/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Was it fate? Was it destiny?" "I think it was Alan Blunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/was-it-fate-was-it-destiny-i-think-it-was-alan-blunt/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [Blunt force didn't knock out the drug epidemic. 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol. And half of all federal inmates are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-botticelli/blunt-force-didn-t-knock-out-the-drug-epidemic-21-million-americans/) [Michael Botticelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-botticelli/) > [Christie led the way - with a bulldozer. The governor is blunt, brash, and self-consciously authentic, the antithesis to what turns off today's voters:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/christie-led-the-way-with-a-bulldozer-the-governor-is-blunt-brash-and/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [The finest edge is made with the blunt whetstone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lyly/the-finest-edge-is-made-with-the-blunt-whetstone/) [John Lyly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lyly/) > [I'm a blunt person, not mean-spirited. I come from a place of love, but I'm interested in being real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/i-m-a-blunt-person-not-mean-spirited-i-come-from-a-place-of-love-but/) [Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/) > [Emily and I have some funny scenes where we quarrel and it gets quite heated, the mother-daughter relationship. You know, film mothers and daughters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacki-weaver/emily-and-i-have-some-funny-scenes-where-we-quarrel-and-it-gets-quite/) [Jacki Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacki-weaver/) > [Rumour is a pipe Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures And of so easy and so plain a stop That the blunt monster with uncounted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/rumour-is-a-pipe-blown-by-surmises-jealousies-conjectures-and-of-so/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/fill-your-bowl-to-the-brim-and-it-will-spill-keep-sharpening-your/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Better stop short than fill to the brim. Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt. Amass a store of gold and jade,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/better-stop-short-than-fill-to-the-brim-oversharpen-the-blade-and-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [There is something discordant about a team of speechwriters and political operatives hammering away to create an image of the 'real, inner' candidate. And,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-greenfield/there-is-something-discordant-about-a-team-of-speechwriters-and/) [Jeff Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-greenfield/) > [I'm too blunt and straightforward for politics, but I'm friends with all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/i-m-too-blunt-and-straightforward-for-politics-but-i-m-friends-with/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [I don't get along with many people, especially in studios. I'm quite blunt and I know what I want - and songwriters are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-blue/i-don-t-get-along-with-many-people-especially-in-studios-i-m-quite/) [Jonas Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-blue/) > [You're afraid of making mistakes. Don't be. Mistakes can be profited by. Man, when I was young I shoved my ignorance in people's faces.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-re-afraid-of-making-mistakes-don-t-be-mistakes-can-be-profited-by/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Browse all 322 Blunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blunt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do it with ten blunt axes instead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edsger Dijkstra" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossible-to-sharpen-a-pencil-with-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blunt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossible-to-sharpen-a-pencil-with-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/edsger-dijkstra-5102_blunt_about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossib_547182.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/edsger-dijkstra-5102_blunt_about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossib_547182.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bb/edsger-dijkstra-5102_blunt_about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossib_547182.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try…” — Edsger Dijkstra", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edsger Dijkstra", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "About the use of language: it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossible-to-sharpen-a-pencil-with-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossible-to-sharpen-a-pencil-with-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```