It’s hard to grasp abstractions if you don’t understand what they’re abstracting away from. -- Nathan Weizenbaum

The venerable master Qc Na was walking with his student, Anton. Hoping to prompt the master into a discussion, Anton said "Master, I have heard that objects are a very good thing - is this true?" Qc Na looked pityingly at his student and replied, "Foolish pupil - objects are merely a poor man's closures." Chastised, Anton took his leave from his master and returned to his cell, intent on studying closures. He carefully read the entire "Lambda: The Ultimate..." series of papers and its cousins, and implemented a small Scheme interpreter with a closure-based object system. He learned much, and looked forward to informing his master of his progress. On his next walk with Qc Na, Anton attempted to impress his master by saying "Master, I have diligently studied the matter, and now understand that objects are truly a poor man's closures." Qc Na responded by hitting Anton with his stick, saying "When will you learn? Closures are a poor man's object." At that moment, Anton became enlightened. -- Anton van Straaten (Na = Norman Adams, Qa = Christian Queinnec)

Software is like sex: It’s better when it’s free. -- Linus Torvalds

But what is it good for? -- Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, commenting on the microchip, 1968

The most damaging phrase in the language is, It's always been done that way. -- Rear Admiral Grace Hopper

It's like a condom; I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. -- some chick in Alien vs. Predator, when asked why she always carries a gun

The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one’s destiny to do, and then do it. ~Henry Ford

Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. –Joshua J. Marine

Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. –Joshua J. Marine

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. –Plato