Answers Quote by Gary Kildall
![“Ask Bill [Gates] why the string in [MS-DOS] function 9 is terminated by a dollar sign. Ask him, because he can't answer. Only I know that.” quote by Gary Kildall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d87/gary-kildall-68174_answers_ask-bill-gates-why-the-string-in-ms-dos_2563460.jpg)
“Ask Bill [Gates] why the string in [MS-DOS] function 9 is terminated by a dollar sign. Ask him, because he can't answer. Only I know that.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Early PC industry discussion, 1980s
The quote mocks a tech figure’s inability to explain a technical detail, implying hidden knowledge.
In simple terms: A tech joke about secret knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of expertise.
Themes
humor
technology
knowledge
Mood
playful
skeptical
Type
satirical
anecdotal
When to use this quote
- software development
- historical tech trivia
Key Concepts
irony
exclusivity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this reveal about expertise perception?
- Why use humor in technical discourse?
![“Ask Bill [Gates] why the string in function 9 is terminated by a dollar sign. Ask him, because he can't answer, only I know that.” quote by Gary Kildall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/744/gary-kildall-68174_answers_ask-bill-gates-why-the-string-in-functio_1872761.jpg)
