All Alan Perlis Quotes
There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.
Alan Perlis
46% of people like this quote
Fools ignore complexity. Pragmatists suffer it. Some can avoid it. Geniuses remove it.
Alan Perlis
46% of people like this quote
A programming language is low level when its programs require attention to the irrelevant.
Alan Perlis
45% of people like this quote
It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.
Alan Perlis
45% of people like this quote
Don't have good ideas if you aren't willing to be responsible for them.
Alan Perlis
45% of people like this quote
In English every word can be verbed. Would that it were so in our programming languages.
Alan Perlis
45% of people like this quote
You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN.
Alan Perlis
44% of people like this quote
It goes against the grain of modern education to teach students to program. What fun is there to making plans, acquiring discipline, organizing thoughts, devoting attention to detail, and learning to be self critical.
Alan Perlis
43% of people like this quote
If you have a procedure with 10 parameters, you probably missed some.
Alan Perlis
43% of people like this quote
A year spent in artificial intelligence is enough to make one believe in God.
Alan Perlis in
Science
43% of people like this quote
If a listener nods his head when you're explaining your program, wake him up.
Alan Perlis
43% of people like this quote
In computing, turning the obvious into the useful is a living definition of the word "frustration".
Alan Perlis
40% of people like this quote
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