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

Quote by Alan Perlis

Topics: Alan Perlis Quotes

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....

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

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

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

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

If your computer speaks English, it was probably made in Japan.

If your computer speaks English, it was probably made in Japan.

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

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

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

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

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 change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.

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

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.

Don't have good ideas if you aren't willing to be responsible for them.

Don't have good ideas if you aren't willing to be responsible for them.

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...

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

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...

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

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

In software systems it is often the early bird that makes the worm.

In software systems it is often the early bird that makes the worm.

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.

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...

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

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.

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.