--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The lurking suspicion that something…" description: "\"The lurking suspicion that something could be simplified is the world's richest source of rewarding challenges.\" — Edsger Dijkstra" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/768/edsger-dijkstra-5102_challenges_the-lurking-suspicion-that-something-cou_1089042.png" --- # The lurking suspicion that something could be simplified… ![“The lurking suspicion that something could be simplified is the world's richest source of rewarding challenges.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/768/edsger-dijkstra-5102_challenges_the-lurking-suspicion-that-something-cou_1089042.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/768/edsger-dijkstra-5102_challenges_the-lurking-suspicion-that-something-cou_1089042.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/768/edsger-dijkstra-5102_challenges_the-lurking-suspicion-that-something-cou_1089042.png) > “The lurking suspicion that something could be simplified is the world's richest source of rewarding challenges.” [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 unnecessary complexity reveals opportunities for elegant, rewarding problem solving. **In simple terms:** Spotting complexity creates rewarding challenges. Key Takeaway Seek simplicity in every problem. Themes problem solving creativity efficiency Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - software development - system architecture - educational curricula - personal projects Key Concepts algorithmic design minimalism complexity reduction Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance simplicity with completeness? - When does simplification hinder functionality? A Different Perspective Simplicity may sacrifice needed features or realism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Simplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity/) [Suspicion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspicion/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [If there is a fundamental challenge within these stories, it is simply to change our lurking suspicion that some lives matter less than other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-there-is-a-fundamental-challenge-within-these-stories-it-is-simply/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What it all amounted to, oddly enough, was that in his finally so simplified world this garden of death gave him the few square…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/what-it-all-amounted-to-oddly-enough-was-that-in-his-finally-so/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“They had a lurking suspicion even, that he died of secret love; though I must say there was a picture of him in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/they-had-a-lurking-suspicion-even-that-he-died-of-secret-love-though/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Within my heart is lurking suspicion, and base fear, and shame and hate; but above all, tyrannous love sits throned, crowned with her graces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/within-my-heart-is-lurking-suspicion-and-base-fear-and-shame-and-hate/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Laugh every chance you get. Laughter is sure to break the bonds of negativity that may be lurking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/laugh-every-chance-you-get-laughter-is-sure-to-break-the-bonds-of/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [Every man has a lurking wish to appear considerable in his native place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/every-man-has-a-lurking-wish-to-appear-considerable-in-his-native/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You know, son, I don't think there's such a thing as an easy life. There's always going to be hard work and there will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-duprau/you-know-son-i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an-easy-life-there/) [Jeanne DuPrau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-duprau/) > [In practice, some come to see easily, some with difficulty. But whatever the case, never mind. Difficult or easy, the Buddha said not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/in-practice-some-come-to-see-easily-some-with-difficulty-but-whatever/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Then one day, we’ll put the reward in the old place, and put in the rat, and, by golloy, the old habit will rememerge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/then-one-day-we-ll-put-the-reward-in-the-old-place-and-put-in-the-rat/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“I am sorry. I did not see you. Normally you are lurking in the corners or skulking in the shadows, not standing in plain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/i-am-sorry-i-did-not-see-you-normally-you-are-lurking-in-the-corners/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [The fact is, in the minds of many, Trayvon Martin received the appropriate punishment for a true crime: He was black, male and dared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/the-fact-is-in-the-minds-of-many-trayvon-martin-received-the/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I often think off-screen horror is more effective, it's the fear of what is lurking around the corner, just out of sight, that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gass-donnelly/i-often-think-off-screen-horror-is-more-effective-it-s-the-fear-of/) [Ed Gass-Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gass-donnelly/) > [Fears, even the most basic ones, can totally destroy our ambitions. Fear, if left unchecked, can destroy our lives. Fear is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/fears-even-the-most-basic-ones-can-totally-destroy-our-ambitions-fear/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I'm of that generation of Jews still deeply influenced by the Holocaust. Certainly the notion that the state power to kill can be subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-turow/i-m-of-that-generation-of-jews-still-deeply-influenced-by-the/) [Scott Turow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-turow/) > [ Even \[Donald Trump\] presence was bullying, was lurking, and was just mainly creepy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/even-donald-trump-presence-was-bullying-was-lurking-and-was-just/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) ## 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/) > [About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. 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 Challenges quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/) Whitney Gaskell > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) [Browse all 8,851 Challenges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The lurking suspicion that something could be simplified is the world's richest source of rewarding challenges.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edsger Dijkstra" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-lurking-suspicion-that-something-could-be-simplified-is-the-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Challenges" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-lurking-suspicion-that-something-could-be-simplified-is-the-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/768/edsger-dijkstra-5102_challenges_the-lurking-suspicion-that-something-cou_1089042.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/768/edsger-dijkstra-5102_challenges_the-lurking-suspicion-that-something-cou_1089042.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/768/edsger-dijkstra-5102_challenges_the-lurking-suspicion-that-something-cou_1089042.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The lurking suspicion that something could be simplified is the world's richest source of rewarding…” — 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": "The lurking suspicion that something could...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-lurking-suspicion-that-something-could-be-simplified-is-the-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-lurking-suspicion-that-something-could-be-simplified-is-the-world/#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 } } ] } ```