--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's why the smartest companies use…" description: "\"That's why the smartest companies use Common Lisp, but lie about it so all their competitors think Lisp is slow and C++ is fast.\" — Erik Naggum" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/erik-naggum-8459_common_that-s-why-the-smartest-companies-use-co_2134371.png" --- # That's why the smartest companies use Common Lisp, but lie… ![“That's why the smartest companies use Common Lisp, but lie about it so all their competitors think Lisp is slow and C++ is fast.” quote by Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/erik-naggum-8459_common_that-s-why-the-smartest-companies-use-co_2134371.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/erik-naggum-8459_common_that-s-why-the-smartest-companies-use-co_2134371.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/erik-naggum-8459_common_that-s-why-the-smartest-companies-use-co_2134371.png) > “That's why the smartest companies use Common Lisp, but lie about it so all their competitors think Lisp is slow and C++ is fast.” [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Companies may misrepresent language performance to shape market perception, influencing competitive dynamics. **In simple terms:** Tech bias can be strategic. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate language claims. Themes technology marketing competition software engineering Mood cautious skeptical Type critical observational When to use this quote - product development - team hiring - industry analysis - education - consulting Key Concepts perception management strategic deception language performance Questions to Reflect On - Why do firms hide true capabilities? - What are the risks of language bias? A Different Perspective Misrepresentation can erode trust and hinder innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common Lisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-lisp-1898032/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Competitors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitors/) [Lisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lisp/) [Lisp Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lisp-lie-4413684/) [Lisp Slow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lisp-slow-4413683/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Think Lisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-lisp-4413685/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [Common Lisp is politics, not art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-fahlman/common-lisp-is-politics-not-art/) [Scott Fahlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-fahlman/) > [“Any sufficiently complicated C or Fortran program contains an ad hoc, informally-specified, bug-ridden, slow implementation of half of Common Lisp.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-greenspun/any-sufficiently-complicated-c-or-fortran-program-contains-an-ad-hoc/) [Philip Greenspun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-greenspun/) > [Greenspun's Tenth Rule of Programming: any sufficiently complicated C or Fortran program contains an ad hoc informally-specified bug-ridden slow implementation of half of Common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-greenspun/greenspun-s-tenth-rule-of-programming-any-sufficiently-complicated-c/) [Philip Greenspun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-greenspun/) > [If you want to know why Lisp doesn't win around you, find a mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/if-you-want-to-know-why-lisp-doesn-t-win-around-you-find-a-mirror/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [The continuation that obeys only obvious stack semantics, O grasshopper, is not the true continuation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-steele/the-continuation-that-obeys-only-obvious-stack-semantics-o/) [Guy Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-steele/) > [This does not mean that I fail to recognise that Lisp is still #1 for key algorithmic techniques such as recursion and condescension. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verity-stob/this-does-not-mean-that-i-fail-to-recognise-that-lisp-is-still-1-for/) [Verity Stob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verity-stob/) > [Lisp isn't a language, it's a building material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/lisp-isn-t-a-language-it-s-a-building-material/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Syntactic sugar causes cancer of the semicolon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/syntactic-sugar-causes-cancer-of-the-semicolon/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [Whose cruel idea was it for the word “lisp” to have an “s” in it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/whose-cruel-idea-was-it-for-the-word-lisp-to-have-an-s-in-it/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“Aaron was so gay he walked with a lisp...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-d-padilla/aaron-was-so-gay-he-walked-with-a-lisp/) [Edward D Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-d-padilla/) > [Lisp is still #1 for key algorithmic techniques such as recursion and condescension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verity-stob/lisp-is-still-1-for-key-algorithmic-techniques-such-as-recursion-and/) [Verity Stob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verity-stob/) > [Lisp is worth learning for the profound enlightenment experience you will have when you finally get it; that experience will make you a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/lisp-is-worth-learning-for-the-profound-enlightenment-experience-you/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [I find it cruel that the word lisp has an s in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-find-it-cruel-that-the-word-lisp-has-an-s-in-it/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [LISP programmers know the value of everything and the cost of nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/lisp-programmers-know-the-value-of-everything-and-the-cost-of-nothing/) [Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/) > [Take Lisp, you know its the most beautiful language in the world -- at least up until Haskell came along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/take-lisp-you-know-its-the-most-beautiful-language-in-the-world-at/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) ## More by Erik Naggum > [Structure is nothing if it is all you got. Skeletons spook people if they try to walk around on their own. I really wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/structure-is-nothing-if-it-is-all-you-got-skeletons-spook-people-if/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [The only important property of evils of the past is that they not be repeated in the future, in any way, shape, or form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-only-important-property-of-evils-of-the-past-is-that-they-not-be/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Some people are little more than herd animals, flocking together whenever the world becomes uncomfortable … I am not one of those people. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/some-people-are-little-more-than-herd-animals-flocking-together/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [They don't make poles long enough for me want to touch Microsoft products, and I don't want any mass-marketed game-playing device or Windows appliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/they-don-t-make-poles-long-enough-for-me-want-to-touch-microsoft/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Ignoring for a moment the power of the American Medical Association, we still wouldn't see a huge amount of books on neurosurgery for dummies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/ignoring-for-a-moment-the-power-of-the-american-medical-association/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I have actually programmed a fair bit in Perl, like I have C++ code published with my name on it. Other things I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-have-actually-programmed-a-fair-bit-in-perl-like-i-have-c-code/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Part of any serious QA is removing Perl code the same way you go over a dilapidated building you inherit to remove chewing gum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/part-of-any-serious-qa-is-removing-perl-code-the-same-way-you-go-over/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I have a cat, so I know that when she digs her very sharp claws into my chest or stomach it's really a sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-have-a-cat-so-i-know-that-when-she-digs-her-very-sharp-claws-into/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Constructing a social system that tends to those who agree with it is a piece of cake compared to constructing one that makes those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/constructing-a-social-system-that-tends-to-those-who-agree-with-it-is/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [If, however, one factor is too successful, it will continue to be the winning factor regardless of the variation in the other factors over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/if-however-one-factor-is-too-successful-it-will-continue-to-be-the/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [C++ is a language strongly optimized for liars and people who go by guesswork and ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/c-is-a-language-strongly-optimized-for-liars-and-people-who-go-by/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Gotos aren't damnable to begin with. If you aren't smart enough to distinguish what's bad about some gotos from all gotos, goto hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/gotos-aren-t-damnable-to-begin-with-if-you-aren-t-smart-enough-to/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I have come to believe that large print, thick and heavy paper, and wide margins and oversize leading is indicative of the expected intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-have-come-to-believe-that-large-print-thick-and-heavy-paper-and/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [The fundamental deficiency in HTML is that it reduces hypertext and the intertwinedness of human communication to a question of how it is rendered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-fundamental-deficiency-in-html-is-that-it-reduces-hypertext-and/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [The currency in the developer community is enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-currency-in-the-developer-community-is-enthusiasm/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) [Explore all 80 Erik Naggum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) ## More Common quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Browse all 7,866 Common quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's why the smartest companies use Common Lisp, but lie about it so all their competitors think Lisp is slow and C++ is fast.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erik Naggum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/that-s-why-the-smartest-companies-use-common-lisp-but-lie-about-it-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Common" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/that-s-why-the-smartest-companies-use-common-lisp-but-lie-about-it-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/erik-naggum-8459_common_that-s-why-the-smartest-companies-use-co_2134371.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/erik-naggum-8459_common_that-s-why-the-smartest-companies-use-co_2134371.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/erik-naggum-8459_common_that-s-why-the-smartest-companies-use-co_2134371.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's why the smartest companies use Common Lisp, but lie about it so all their competitors think Lisp is…” — Erik Naggum", "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": "Erik Naggum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That's why the smartest companies use...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/that-s-why-the-smartest-companies-use-common-lisp-but-lie-about-it-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/that-s-why-the-smartest-companies-use-common-lisp-but-lie-about-it-so/#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 } } ] } ```