Computer science education cannot make anybody an expert programmer any more than studying brushes and pigment can make somebody an expert painter. -- Eric Raymond

Attitude is no substitute for competence. -- Eric S. Raymond, How to become a hacker

The problem is that small examples fail to convince, and large examples are too big to follow. -- Steve Yegge.

No art, however minor, demands less than total dedication if you want to excel in it. -- Alberti

Simple things should be simple. Complex things should be possible. -- Alan Kay

Since programmers create programs out of nothing, imagination is our only limitation. Thus, in the world of programming, the hero is the one who has great vision. Paul Graham is one of our contemporary heroes. He has the ability to embrace the vision, and to express it plainly. His works are my favorites, especially the ones describing language design. He explains secrets of programming, languages, and human nature that can only be learned from the hacker experience. This book shows you his great vision, and tells you the truth about the nature of hacking. -- Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto, creator of Ruby

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. ~Maya Angelou

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.~ Anatole France

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. –Confucius

People who succeed have momentum. The more they succeed, the more they want to succeed, and the more they find a way to succeed. Similarly, when someone is failing, the tendency is to get on a downward spiral that can even become a self-fulfilling prophecy. ~Tony Robbins