Abstraction is a form of data compression: absolutely necessary, because human short-term memory is so small, but the critically important aspect of abstraction is the algorithm that gets you from the name back to the "uncompressed" details. -- Bruce Wilder (blog post comment)

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

Students should be evaluated on how well they can achieve the goals they strived to achieve within a realistic context. Students need to learn to do things, not know things. -- Roger Schank, Engines for Education

Seize any opportunity, or anything that looks like opportunity. They are rare, much rarer than you think... -- Nassim Nicholas Taleb, "The Black Swan".

If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. -- Mark Twain

We really have to get over the idea that some stuff is just worth knowing even if you never do anything with it. Human memories happily erase stuff that has no purpose, so why try to fill up children's heads with such stuff? -- Roger Schank, Engines for Education

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. –Henry David Thoreau

Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see. –Confucius

All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. ~Walt Disney

If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money. –Abigail Van Buren