--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The corollary of constant change is…" description: "\"The corollary of constant change is ignorance. This is not often talked about: we computer experts barely know what we're doing. We're good at fussing ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/ellen-ullman-3943_change_the-corollary-of-constant-change-is-igno_1750963.jpg" --- # The corollary of constant change is ignorance. This is not… ![“The corollary of constant change is ignorance. This is not often talked about: we computer experts barely know what we're doing. We're good at fussing and figuring out. We function well in a sea of unknowns. Our experience has only prepared us to deal with confusion. A programmer who denies this…” quote by Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/ellen-ullman-3943_change_the-corollary-of-constant-change-is-igno_1750963.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/ellen-ullman-3943_change_the-corollary-of-constant-change-is-igno_1750963.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/ellen-ullman-3943_change_the-corollary-of-constant-change-is-igno_1750963.jpg) > “The corollary of constant change is ignorance. This is not often talked about: we computer experts barely know what we're doing. We're good at fussing and figuring out. We function well in a sea of unknowns. Our experience has only prepared us to deal with confusion. A programmer who denies this is probably lying, or else is densely unaware of himself.” [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Constant change creates pervasive ignorance; programmers must embrace uncertainty and continuous learning rather than false confidence. **In simple terms:** Tech changes fast, so we often don’t know what we’re doing. Key Takeaway Stay humble, keep learning, and adapt. Themes technology uncertainty learning humility Mood cautious inquisitive Type practical reflective When to use this quote - project planning - team communication - career development - risk assessment Key Concepts software engineering cognitive bias knowledge gaps Questions to Reflect On - Are you aware of the gaps in your knowledge? - How can you foster a culture of honest uncertainty? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to poor decisions and project failures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-ignorance-1605600/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) [Confusion Programmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion-programmer-1605599/) [Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant/) [Constant Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant-change/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Deny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deny/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Programmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programmer/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [“You can't change ignorance by beating a hole into someone's face. Doing that only makes you as ignorant as they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melyssa-winchester/you-can-t-change-ignorance-by-beating-a-hole-into-someone-s-face/) [Melyssa Winchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melyssa-winchester/) > [Computer science education cannot make anybody an expert programmer any more than studying brushes and pigment can make somebody an expert painter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/computer-science-education-cannot-make-anybody-an-expert-programmer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The messiness cannot go into the program; it piles up around the programmer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/the-messiness-cannot-go-into-the-program-it-piles-up-around-the/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [To be a programmer is to develop a carefully managed relationship with error. There's no getting around it. You either make your accomodations with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/to-be-a-programmer-is-to-develop-a-carefully-managed-relationship/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [My approach to being a self-taught programmer was to find out who was smart and who would be helpful, and these were - these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/my-approach-to-being-a-self-taught-programmer-was-to-find-out-who-was/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [The programmer, who needs clarity, who must talk all day to a machine that demands declarations, hunkers down into a low-grade annoyance. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/the-programmer-who-needs-clarity-who-must-talk-all-day-to-a-machine/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [Change is the essence of life; change is the great challenge, the great constant. Change is the ultimate teller of tales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/change-is-the-essence-of-life-change-is-the-great-challenge-the-great/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“Since the only constant is change, as you grow there is always room to develop and improve the personal relationship you have with yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-l-white/since-the-only-constant-is-change-as-you-grow-there-is-always-room-to/) [Victoria L. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-l-white/) > [“Why do we prize changing organism more than inorganic matter, unchanging and constant? If there be no change in the bright hues of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/why-do-we-prize-changing-organism-more-than-inorganic-matter/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [Change is the only constant. We all change as per time and relationship also changes and you need to adapt. You need to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rubina-dilaik/change-is-the-only-constant-we-all-change-as-per-time-and/) [Rubina Dilaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rubina-dilaik/) > [Life needs a constant change, minds needs the constant change, only thing that is permanent in the world is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-needs-a-constant-change-minds-needs-the-constant-change-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No form remains permanently in a substance; a constant change takes place, one form is taken off and another is put on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/no-form-remains-permanently-in-a-substance-a-constant-change-takes/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [“As Waterman has noted: In today’s business environment, more than in any preceding era, the only constant is change. Successful organizations effectively manage change,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-david/as-waterman-has-noted-in-today-s-business-environment-more-than-in/) [Fred David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-david/) > [Vulnerability in the face of constant change is what we share, whatever our present condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/vulnerability-in-the-face-of-constant-change-is-what-we-share/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“Just as the universe is in constant flux, so too are we in constant change, and we must accept that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/just-as-the-universe-is-in-constant-flux-so-too-are-we-in-constant/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) ## More by Ellen Ullman > [I think technical people now should learn literature, because literature teaches you a great deal about how - the depths and variety of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-think-technical-people-now-should-learn-literature-because/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [The web is just another stunning point in the two-hundred-thousand-year history of human beings on earth. The taming of fire; the discovery of penicillin;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/the-web-is-just-another-stunning-point-in-the-two-hundred-thousand/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [When I am writing, and occasionally achieve single focus and presence, I finally feel that is where I'm supposed to be. Everything else is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/when-i-am-writing-and-occasionally-achieve-single-focus-and-presence/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [I don't know where anyone ever got the idea that technology, in and of itself, was a savior. Like all human-created 'progress,' computers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-don-t-know-where-anyone-ever-got-the-idea-that-technology-in-and-of/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [You can only get a beginner's mind once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/you-can-only-get-a-beginner-s-mind-once/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [I'm a dark thoughts writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-m-a-dark-thoughts-writer/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [I hate to see capable, smart people out of work - young or old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-hate-to-see-capable-smart-people-out-of-work-young-or-old/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [“I believed my motivations were clear: to help the patient see the pattern that had been imposed upon her, this endless repetition of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-believed-my-motivations-were-clear-to-help-the-patient-see-the/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [It had to happen to me sometime: sooner or later, I would have to lose sight of the cutting edge. That moment every technical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/it-had-to-happen-to-me-sometime-sooner-or-later-i-would-have-to-lose/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [Software and digital devices are imbued with the values of their creators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/software-and-digital-devices-are-imbued-with-the-values-of-their/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [ I've always written. I'm from an older generation of programmers \[who\] did not come out of engineering. \[A\]ll sorts of people were drawn in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-ve-always-written-i-m-from-an-older-generation-of-programmers-who/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [Through the miracle of natural genetic recombination, each child, with the sole exception of an identical twin, is conceived as a unique being. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/through-the-miracle-of-natural-genetic-recombination-each-child-with/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [Staring prejudice in the face imposes a cruel discipline: to structure your anger, to achieve a certain dignity, an angry dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/staring-prejudice-in-the-face-imposes-a-cruel-discipline-to-structure/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [Y2K has challenged a belief in digital technology that has been almost religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/y2k-has-challenged-a-belief-in-digital-technology-that-has-been/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [I don't consider myself a Jewish writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-jewish-writer/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) [Explore all 119 Ellen Ullman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The corollary of constant change is ignorance. This is not often talked about: we computer experts barely know what we're doing. We're good at fussing and figuring out. We function well in a sea of unknowns. Our experience has only prepared us to deal with confusion. A programmer who denies this is probably lying, or else is densely unaware of himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ellen Ullman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/the-corollary-of-constant-change-is-ignorance-this-is-not-often/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/the-corollary-of-constant-change-is-ignorance-this-is-not-often/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/ellen-ullman-3943_change_the-corollary-of-constant-change-is-igno_1750963.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/ellen-ullman-3943_change_the-corollary-of-constant-change-is-igno_1750963.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/ellen-ullman-3943_change_the-corollary-of-constant-change-is-igno_1750963.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The corollary of constant change is ignorance. This is not often talked about: we computer experts barely…” — Ellen Ullman", "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": "Ellen Ullman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The corollary of constant change is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/the-corollary-of-constant-change-is-ignorance-this-is-not-often/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/the-corollary-of-constant-change-is-ignorance-this-is-not-often/#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 } } ] } ```