We should forget about small efficiencies, say about 97% of the time: premature optimization is the root of all evil. -- Donald Knuth
I think it is wise, and only honest, to warn you that my goal is immodest. It is not my purpose to "transfer knowledge" to you that, subsequently, you can forget again. My purpose is no less than to effectuate in each of you a noticeable, irreversable change. I want you to gain, for the rest of your lives, the insight that beautiful proofs are not "found" by trial anf error but are the result of a consciously applied design discipline. I want you to raise your quality standards. I mean, if 10 years from now, when you are doing something quick and dirty, you suddenly visualize that I am looking over your shoulders and say to yourself "Dijkstra would not have liked this", well, that would be enough immortality for me. -- E. W. Dijkstra
While I’ve always appreciated beautiful code, I share Jonathan’s concern about studying it too much. I think studying beauty in music and painting has led us to modern classical music and painting that the majority of us just don’t get. Beauty can be seen when it emerges, but isn’t something to strive for in isolation of a larger context. In the software world, the larger context would be the utility of the software to the end user. -- [A comment on a blog]
The most damaging phrase in the language is, It's always been done that way. -- Rear Admiral Grace Hopper
Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not tried it. -- Donald Knuth
As builders and creators finding the perfect solution should not be our main goal. We should find the perfect problem. -- Isaac (blog comment)
The starting point of all achievement is desire. ~Napolean Hill
A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done. ~Vince Lombardi
Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time. ~George Bernard Shaw
Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice. ~Wayne Dyer