Premature optimization is the root of all evil (or at least most of it) in programming. -- Donald Knuth

640K ought to be enough for anybody. -- Bill Gates, 1981

In theory, there’s no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is. -- Albert Einstein

This challenge, viz. the confrontation with the programming task, is so unique that this novel experience can teach us a lot about ourselves. It should deepen our understanding of the processes of design and creation, it should give us better control over the task of organizing our thoughts. If it did not do so, to my taste we should no deserve the computer at all! It has allready taught us a few lessons, and the one I have chosen to stress in this talk is the following. We shall do a much better programming job, provided that we approach the task with a full appreciation of its tremenduous difficulty, provided that we stick to modest and elegant programming languages, provided that we respect the intrinsec limitations of the human mind and approach the task as Very Humble Programmers. -- E. W. Dijkstra, The humble programmer

The only problems we can really solve in a satisfactory manner are those that finally admit a nicely factored solution. -- E. W. Dijkstra, The humble programmer

The purpose of abstraction is not to be vague, but to create a new semantic level in which one can be absolutely precise. -- Edsger Dijkstra

Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. ~Albert Einstein

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. ~Jim Ryun

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. –Chinese Proverb

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily. –Zig Ziglar