--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ability of discerning high quality…" description: "\"The ability of discerning high quality unavoidably implies the ability of identifying shortcomings.\" — Edsger Dijkstra" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/edsger-dijkstra-5102_ability_the-ability-of-discerning-high-quality-u_3087323.png" --- # The ability of discerning high quality unavoidably implies… ![“The ability of discerning high quality unavoidably implies the ability of identifying shortcomings.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/edsger-dijkstra-5102_ability_the-ability-of-discerning-high-quality-u_3087323.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/edsger-dijkstra-5102_ability_the-ability-of-discerning-high-quality-u_3087323.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/edsger-dijkstra-5102_ability_the-ability-of-discerning-high-quality-u_3087323.png) > “The ability of discerning high quality unavoidably implies the ability of identifying shortcomings.” [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. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Shortcomings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcomings/) ## Related quotes > [Progression, in my opinion, is often identifying shortcomings - whether it's views or the things you're doing in your life, your relationships - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/progression-in-my-opinion-is-often-identifying-shortcomings-whether/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [A passion for continual learning, a refined, discerning ear for the moral and ethical consequences of their actions, and an understanding of the purposes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/a-passion-for-continual-learning-a-refined-discerning-ear-for-the/) [Warren G. 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Bush for not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/political-journalists-love-graduate-student-intelligence-the-ability/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [There are certain times you rattle the press's cages, and other times you don't, and you have to be discerning about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/there-are-certain-times-you-rattle-the-press-s-cages-and-other-times/) [Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. 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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. 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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/) > [About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. 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