The function of good software is to make the complex appear to be simple. -- Grady Booch
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
Some people suggest that machines would be friendlier if input could be in a natural language. But natural language is probably the worst kind of input because it can be quite ambiguous. The process of retrieving information from the computer would be so time-consuming that you would be better off spending that time getting the information directly from an expert. -- Gary Kildall (inventor of CP/M, one of the first OS for the micro).
The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. -- Hans Hofmann
Don't stay in bed, unless you can make money in bed. -- George Burns
Simplicity and pragmatism beat complexity and theory any day. -- Dennis (blog comment)
You become what you believe. –Oprah Winfrey
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. –Mark Twain
If you’re going through hell keep going. ~Winston Churchill
The only way to do great work is to love what you do. –Steve Jobs