--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If 10 years from now, when you are doing…" description: "\"If 10 years from now, when you are doing something quick and dirty, you suddenly visualize that I am looking over your shoulders and say to yourself: '..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/edsger-dijkstra-5102_dirty_if-10-years-from-now-when-you-are-doing_908973.jpg" --- # If 10 years from now, when you are doing something quick… ![“If 10 years from now, when you are doing something quick and dirty, you suddenly visualize that I am looking over your shoulders and say to yourself: 'Dijkstra would not have liked this', well that would be enough immortality for me.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/edsger-dijkstra-5102_dirty_if-10-years-from-now-when-you-are-doing_908973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/edsger-dijkstra-5102_dirty_if-10-years-from-now-when-you-are-doing_908973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/edsger-dijkstra-5102_dirty_if-10-years-from-now-when-you-are-doing_908973.jpg) > “If 10 years from now, when you are doing something quick and dirty, you suddenly visualize that I am looking over your shoulders and say to yourself: 'Dijkstra would not have liked this', well that would be enough immortality for me.” [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. Imagining a respected figure watching your work can inspire higher standards and lasting impact. **In simple terms:** Seeing a mentor's gaze pushes you to excellence. Key Takeaway Aim for quality that endures. Themes legacy excellence motivation Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - software development - academic research - creative projects Key Concepts Ethics reputation immortality Questions to Reflect On - How does imagined scrutiny affect your work? - What standards would you set for yourself? A Different Perspective It may create pressure and fear of judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) ## Related quotes > [The first 10 years of a girls life is spent playing with barbies & the next 10 years are spent trying to look like one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-10-years-of-a-girls-life-is-spent-playing-with-barbies-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I knew how touring was for 10 years, but it's completely different now that things are popping off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/i-knew-how-touring-was-for-10-years-but-it-s-completely-different-now/) [Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/) > [Over the last 10 years, women have stalled out at the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/over-the-last-10-years-women-have-stalled-out-at-the-top/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [A real capitalist knows that $10 given today does a lot more good than $100 given 10 years from now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvon-chouinard/a-real-capitalist-knows-that-10-given-today-does-a-lot-more-good-than/) [Yvon Chouinard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvon-chouinard/) > [But we had - I think if you look at law enforcement 10 years ago, if you look at the challenges, the FBI was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mueller/but-we-had-i-think-if-you-look-at-law-enforcement-10-years-ago-if-you/) [Robert Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mueller/) > [The next 10 years are either going to happen to us, or because of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-solis/the-next-10-years-are-either-going-to-happen-to-us-or-because-of-us/) [Brian Solis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-solis/) > [No talent? No talent? You're the one with no talent, you haven't had a hit in 10 years! -Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-time-rush/no-talent-no-talent-you-re-the-one-with-no-talent-you-haven-t-had-a/) [Big Time Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-time-rush/) > [Every day after school for 10 years, I was on the set of 'Married... with Children,' which is a really funny and perverse place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-markle/every-day-after-school-for-10-years-i-was-on-the-set-of-married-with/) [Meghan Markle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-markle/) > [From my standpoint, I feel like I'm at the start of my career, I'm only 23-years-old but I have been doing it for 10 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dunne/from-my-standpoint-i-feel-like-i-m-at-the-start-of-my-career-i-m-only/) [Pete Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dunne/) > [I sometimes wish I was 10 years younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/i-sometimes-wish-i-was-10-years-younger/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [There's a lot of pressure, and it's a long battle, to coach at the elite level. 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I got on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-kidder/i-d-had-episodes-before-but-i-swept-them-under-the-carpet-this-time-i/) [Margot Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-kidder/) > [We've had lots of breaks, especially over the last 10 years, so to still be getting together and to be able to get on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/we-ve-had-lots-of-breaks-especially-over-the-last-10-years-so-to/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) ## More by Edsger Dijkstra > [Production speed is severely slowed down if one works with half-time people who have other obligations as well. 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It is equally vain to try to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossible-to-sharpen-a-pencil-with-a/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) [Explore all 103 Edsger Dijkstra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) ## More Dirty quotes > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) Deon Taylor > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. 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