Fools ignore complexity. Pragmatists suffer it. Some can avoid it. Geniuses remove it.

Quote by Alan Perlis

Topics: Alan Perlis Quotes

A year spent in artificial intelligence is enough to make one believe in God.

A year spent in artificial intelligence is enough to make one believe in God.

It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.

It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.

There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.

There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.

If you have a procedure with 10 parameters, you probably missed some.

If you have a procedure with 10 parameters, you probably missed some.

I think it is inevitable that people program poorly. Training will not substantially help matters....

I think it is inevitable that people program poorly. Training will not substantially help matters....

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

In computing, turning the obvious into the useful is a living definition of the word...

In computing, turning the obvious into the useful is a living definition of the word...

Every program has two purposes: The one for which it was written and another for...

Every program has two purposes: The one for which it was written and another for...

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

A picture is worth 10K words - but only those to describe the picture. Hardly...

A picture is worth 10K words - but only those to describe the picture. Hardly...

It goes against the grain of modern education to teach students to program. What fun...

It goes against the grain of modern education to teach students to program. What fun...

If a listener nods his head when you're explaining your program, wake him up.

If a listener nods his head when you're explaining your program, wake him up.

We toast the Lisp programmer who pens his thoughts within nests of parentheses.

We toast the Lisp programmer who pens his thoughts within nests of parentheses.

Is it possible that software is not like anything else, that it is meant to...

Is it possible that software is not like anything else, that it is meant to...

It is easier to write an incorrect program than understand a correct one.

It is easier to write an incorrect program than understand a correct one.

One man's constant is another man's variable.

One man's constant is another man's variable.

You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of...

You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of...

In English every word can be verbed. Would that it were so in our programming...

In English every word can be verbed. Would that it were so in our programming...

LISP programmers know the value of everything and the cost of nothing.

LISP programmers know the value of everything and the cost of nothing.

Some programming languages manage to absorb change, but withstand progress.

Some programming languages manage to absorb change, but withstand progress.