--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its…" description: "\"The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.\" — Edsger Dijkstra" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/edsger-dijkstra-5102_cobol_the-use-of-cobol-cripples-the-mind-its-t_1483657.png" --- # The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should… ![“The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/edsger-dijkstra-5102_cobol_the-use-of-cobol-cripples-the-mind-its-t_1483657.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/edsger-dijkstra-5102_cobol_the-use-of-cobol-cripples-the-mind-its-t_1483657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/edsger-dijkstra-5102_cobol_the-use-of-cobol-cripples-the-mind-its-t_1483657.png) > “The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.” [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. Teaching outdated languages can limit modern thinking and problem solving. **In simple terms:** Old programming languages hinder modern thinking. Key Takeaway Embrace current, efficient languages. Themes education technology progress Mood critical analytical Type philosophical technical When to use this quote - computer science curricula - training programs Key Concepts programming paradigms cognitive flexibility Questions to Reflect On - Should we ban teaching legacy languages? - How can we balance history with innovation? A Different Perspective Obsolescence is not criminal; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) ## Related quotes > [Teaching COBOL ought to be regarded as a criminal act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/teaching-cobol-ought-to-be-regarded-as-a-criminal-act/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [“The question up for debate between Socrates and Phaedrus is whether the written word kills memory or aids it--whether it cripples the mind's power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/the-question-up-for-debate-between-socrates-and-phaedrus-is-whether/) [Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/) > [How fatally the entire want of humor cripples the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-james/how-fatally-the-entire-want-of-humor-cripples-the-mind/) [Alice James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-james/) > [“Cobol, for all its sometime popularity, does not seem to have any intellectual descendants. It is an evolutionary dead- end a Neanderthal language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/cobol-for-all-its-sometime-popularity-does-not-seem-to-have-any/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [COBOL unlike other languages is the most modern, because… it has a lot of PICTURES!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lkk/cobol-unlike-other-languages-is-the-most-modern-because-it-has-a-lot/) Lkk > [C++ is the only current language making COBOL look good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-meyer/c-is-the-only-current-language-making-cobol-look-good/) [Bertrand Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-meyer/) > [COBOL programmers understand why women hate periods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cobol-programmers-understand-why-women-hate-periods/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Real programmers don't write in PL/I. PL/I is for programmers who can't decide whether to write in COBOL or FORTRAN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-van-vleck/real-programmers-don-t-write-in-pl-i-pl-i-is-for-programmers-who-can/) [Tom Van Vleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-van-vleck/) > [“Moira nodded vigorously. She didn't know what BASIC or COBOL were, except that Wiz said they caused brain damage in those who used them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-cook/moira-nodded-vigorously-she-didn-t-know-what-basic-or-cobol-were/) [Rick Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-cook/) > [There's an old maxim that says, 'Things that work persist,' which is why there's still Cobol floating around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-an-old-maxim-that-says-things-that-work-persist-which-is-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) ## 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 Cobol quotes > [There's an old maxim that says, 'Things that work persist,' which is why there's still Cobol floating around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-an-old-maxim-that-says-things-that-work-persist-which-is-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Moira nodded vigorously. She didn't know what BASIC or COBOL were, except that Wiz said they caused brain damage in those who used them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-cook/moira-nodded-vigorously-she-didn-t-know-what-basic-or-cobol-were/) [Rick Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-cook/) > [Real programmers don't write in PL/I. PL/I is for programmers who can't decide whether to write in COBOL or FORTRAN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-van-vleck/real-programmers-don-t-write-in-pl-i-pl-i-is-for-programmers-who-can/) [Tom Van Vleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-van-vleck/) > [Teaching COBOL ought to be regarded as a criminal act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/teaching-cobol-ought-to-be-regarded-as-a-criminal-act/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [COBOL programmers understand why women hate periods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cobol-programmers-understand-why-women-hate-periods/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [C++ is the only current language making COBOL look good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-meyer/c-is-the-only-current-language-making-cobol-look-good/) [Bertrand Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-meyer/) > [COBOL unlike other languages is the most modern, because… it has a lot of PICTURES!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lkk/cobol-unlike-other-languages-is-the-most-modern-because-it-has-a-lot/) Lkk > [“Cobol, for all its sometime popularity, does not seem to have any intellectual descendants. It is an evolutionary dead- end a Neanderthal language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/cobol-for-all-its-sometime-popularity-does-not-seem-to-have-any/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) Browse all 9 Cobol quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edsger Dijkstra" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-use-of-cobol-cripples-the-mind-its-teaching-should-therefore-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cobol" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-use-of-cobol-cripples-the-mind-its-teaching-should-therefore-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/edsger-dijkstra-5102_cobol_the-use-of-cobol-cripples-the-mind-its-t_1483657.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/edsger-dijkstra-5102_cobol_the-use-of-cobol-cripples-the-mind-its-t_1483657.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/edsger-dijkstra-5102_cobol_the-use-of-cobol-cripples-the-mind-its-t_1483657.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.” — 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 use of COBOL cripples the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-use-of-cobol-cripples-the-mind-its-teaching-should-therefore-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-use-of-cobol-cripples-the-mind-its-teaching-should-therefore-be/#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 } } ] } ```