--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They were saying computers deal with…" description: "\"They were saying computers deal with numbers. This was absolutely nonsense. Computers deal with arbitrary information of any kind.\" — Ted Nelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/ted-nelson-13662_arbitrary_they-were-saying-computers-deal-with-num_1414697.png" --- # They were saying computers deal with numbers. This was… ![“They were saying computers deal with numbers. This was absolutely nonsense. Computers deal with arbitrary information of any kind.” quote by Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/ted-nelson-13662_arbitrary_they-were-saying-computers-deal-with-num_1414697.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/ted-nelson-13662_arbitrary_they-were-saying-computers-deal-with-num_1414697.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/ted-nelson-13662_arbitrary_they-were-saying-computers-deal-with-num_1414697.png) > “They were saying computers deal with numbers. This was absolutely nonsense. Computers deal with arbitrary information of any kind.” [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Computers can process any type of data, not just numbers, showing their versatility. **In simple terms:** Computers handle all kinds of information. Key Takeaway Recognize the broad potential of computing. Themes technology information versatility Mood inquisitive optimistic Type technical philosophical When to use this quote - software development - education - creative industries - research Key Concepts digital media data processing computational theory Questions to Reflect On - How does this view change your approach to tech? - What data types are you overlooking? A Different Perspective Limits may arise from hardware constraints or algorithmic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) [Arbitrary Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary-information-4995002/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Nonsense Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense-computers-4995000/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Saying Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-computers-4995001/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [No arbitrary regulation, no act of the legislature, can add anything to the capital of the country; it can only force it into artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ramsay-mcculloch/no-arbitrary-regulation-no-act-of-the-legislature-can-add-anything-to/) [John Ramsay McCulloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ramsay-mcculloch/) > [Fundamentally, adopting rules without any estimate of the impact is the height of arbitrary decision-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/fundamentally-adopting-rules-without-any-estimate-of-the-impact-is/) [Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/) > [“nothing is arbitrary in this whole world, there is a good reason behind each and everything…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-kumar/nothing-is-arbitrary-in-this-whole-world-there-is-a-good-reason/) [Nikhil Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-kumar/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. The lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/there-is-something-on-earth-greater-than-arbitrary-or-despotic-power/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [What causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority but the arbitrary use of power, with little explanation of the rules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/what-causes-adolescents-to-rebel-is-not-the-assertion-of-authority/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/contrary-to-what-certain-governments-say-human-rights-are-universal/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [I don't concern myself with thinking ahead to the finished product. I focus more specifically on what the character is experiencing. Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Not to be offensive, not to be capricious, not to be arbitrary, not to be neurotic, not to be an actor outer, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurt/not-to-be-offensive-not-to-be-capricious-not-to-be-arbitrary-not-to/) [William Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurt/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## More by Ted Nelson > [The problem is not software 'friendliness'. It is conceptual clarity. A globe does not say, 'good morning'. It is simple and clear, not 'friendly'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/the-problem-is-not-software-friendliness-it-is-conceptual-clarity-a/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [I have long been alarmed by people's sheeplike acceptance of the term 'computer technology' - it sounds so objective and inexorable - when most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/i-have-long-been-alarmed-by-people-s-sheeplike-acceptance-of-the-term/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [How is MS-DOS like MSG? Both raise your blood pressure and give you a tightening sensation around your forehead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/how-is-ms-dos-like-msg-both-raise-your-blood-pressure-and-give-you-a/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [You can and must understand computers NOW.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/you-can-and-must-understand-computers-now/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [Power corrupts, and obsolete power corrupts obsoletely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/power-corrupts-and-obsolete-power-corrupts-obsoletely/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [I am looking at it from the point of view of a harried user, which I am, and I believe that I am much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/i-am-looking-at-it-from-the-point-of-view-of-a-harried-user-which-i/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [The Web is trivially simple - massively successful and its like Karaoke - anybody can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/the-web-is-trivially-simple-massively-successful-and-its-like-karaoke/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [So, I was always frustrated having to write and having to cut things. Why should you have to cut anything?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/so-i-was-always-frustrated-having-to-write-and-having-to-cut-things/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [Telling computer guys that they need to have permission to quote things is like having to tell little children about Death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/telling-computer-guys-that-they-need-to-have-permission-to-quote/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [The ideas keep going, you have the material, you cut because there's a limit to the space allowed to you. And the space is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/the-ideas-keep-going-you-have-the-material-you-cut-because-there-s-a/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [In my second year in graduate school, I took a computer course and that was like lightening striking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/in-my-second-year-in-graduate-school-i-took-a-computer-course-and/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [The technicalities matter a lot, but the unifying vision matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/the-technicalities-matter-a-lot-but-the-unifying-vision-matters-more/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [Making things easy is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/making-things-easy-is-hard/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [Project Xanadu is essentially my trademark. It was originally, and has returned to my arms as that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/project-xanadu-is-essentially-my-trademark-it-was-originally-and-has/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [Everything is deeply intertwingled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/everything-is-deeply-intertwingled/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) [Explore all 49 Ted Nelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) ## More Arbitrary quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. 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Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/contrary-to-what-certain-governments-say-human-rights-are-universal/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [What causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority but the arbitrary use of power, with little explanation of the rules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/what-causes-adolescents-to-rebel-is-not-the-assertion-of-authority/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. The lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/there-is-something-on-earth-greater-than-arbitrary-or-despotic-power/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“nothing is arbitrary in this whole world, there is a good reason behind each and everything…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-kumar/nothing-is-arbitrary-in-this-whole-world-there-is-a-good-reason/) [Nikhil Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-kumar/) > [Fundamentally, adopting rules without any estimate of the impact is the height of arbitrary decision-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/fundamentally-adopting-rules-without-any-estimate-of-the-impact-is/) [Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/) > [No arbitrary regulation, no act of the legislature, can add anything to the capital of the country; it can only force it into artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ramsay-mcculloch/no-arbitrary-regulation-no-act-of-the-legislature-can-add-anything-to/) [John Ramsay McCulloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ramsay-mcculloch/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) [Browse all 529 Arbitrary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They were saying computers deal with numbers. 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