In general, we can think of data as defined by some collection of selectors and constructors, together with specified conditions that these procedures must fulfill in order to be a valid representation. -- SICP, What is meant by data?

Workers of the world, the chains that bind you are not held in place by a ruling class, a "superior" race, by society, the state, or a leader. They are held in place by none other than yourself. Those who seek to exploit are not themselves free, for they place no value in freedom. Who is it that really employs you and commands you to pick up your daily load? And who is it that you allow to pass judgment on the adequacy of your toil? Who have you empowered to dangle the carrot before you and threaten with disapproval? Who, when you wake each morning, sends you off to what you call your work? Is there an "I want to" behind all your "I have to," or have you been so long forgotten to yourself that "I want" exists only as an idea in your head? If you have disconnected from your soul's desire and are drowning in an ocean of "have to," then rise up and overthrow your master. Begin the journey toward emancipation. Work only in such a way that you are truly self-employed. -- Tim Gallwey, The inner game of work

Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. -- Thomas Edison

C++ is history repeated as tragedy. Java is history repeated as farce. -- Scott McKay

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. -- John Lennon

Do not accept anything because it comes from the mouth of a respected person. -- Buddha

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. ~Mark Twain

Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. ~John R. Wooden

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

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. –Arthur Ashe