--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Programming is one of the most difficult…" description: "\"Programming is one of the most difficult branches of applied mathematics; the poorer mathematicians had better remain pure mathematicians.\" — Edsger Di..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/edsger-dijkstra-5102_branches_programming-is-one-of-the-most-difficult_1429638.png" --- # Programming is one of the most difficult branches of… ![“Programming is one of the most difficult branches of applied mathematics; the poorer mathematicians had better remain pure mathematicians.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/edsger-dijkstra-5102_branches_programming-is-one-of-the-most-difficult_1429638.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/edsger-dijkstra-5102_branches_programming-is-one-of-the-most-difficult_1429638.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/edsger-dijkstra-5102_branches_programming-is-one-of-the-most-difficult_1429638.png) > “Programming is one of the most difficult branches of applied mathematics; the poorer mathematicians had better remain pure mathematicians.” [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. Programming demands rigorous mathematical thinking; those less adept may stay in pure theory, highlighting the field’s difficulty. **In simple terms:** Programming is tough math; some should stay pure. Key Takeaway Focus on strengthening math skills. Themes programming mathematics difficulty career education Mood analytical pragmatic Type technical motivational When to use this quote - software development - academic research - training programs Key Concepts algorithmic thinking theoretical vs applied skill gap Questions to Reflect On - Can you improve through practice? - Is specialization better? A Different Perspective Not all can master applied programming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) ## Related quotes > [“As usual in programming, if something is difficult for you to understand, it’s probably not a good idea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lutz/as-usual-in-programming-if-something-is-difficult-for-you-to/) [Mark Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lutz/) > [“I spoke of the 'real' mathematics of Fermat and other great mathematicians, the mathematics which has permanent aesthetic value, as for example the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/i-spoke-of-the-real-mathematics-of-fermat-and-other-great/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [I am obliged to interpolate some remarks on a very difficult subject: proof and its importance in mathematics. 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Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-j-davis/) > [Pure mathematicians just love to try unsolved problems - they love a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/pure-mathematicians-just-love-to-try-unsolved-problems-they-love-a/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [Relations between pure and applied mathematicians are based on trust and understanding. Namely, pure mathematicians do not trust applied mathematicians, and applied mathematicians do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/relations-between-pure-and-applied-mathematicians-are-based-on-trust/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [It has been a fortunate fact in the modern history of physical science that the scientist constructing a new theoretical system has nearly always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-b-braithwaite/it-has-been-a-fortunate-fact-in-the-modern-history-of-physical/) R. B. 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The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## 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 \[the goto statement\]. 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McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) Browse all 1,228 Branches quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Programming is one of the most difficult branches of applied mathematics; the poorer mathematicians had better remain pure mathematicians.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edsger Dijkstra" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/programming-is-one-of-the-most-difficult-branches-of-applied/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Branches" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/programming-is-one-of-the-most-difficult-branches-of-applied/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/edsger-dijkstra-5102_branches_programming-is-one-of-the-most-difficult_1429638.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/edsger-dijkstra-5102_branches_programming-is-one-of-the-most-difficult_1429638.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/edsger-dijkstra-5102_branches_programming-is-one-of-the-most-difficult_1429638.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Programming is one of the most difficult branches of applied mathematics; the poorer mathematicians had…” — 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": "Programming is one of the most...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/programming-is-one-of-the-most-difficult-branches-of-applied/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/programming-is-one-of-the-most-difficult-branches-of-applied/#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 } } ] } ```