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Edsger Dijkstra Quotes


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Quotes by Edsger Dijkstra

Showing 11-20 of 26 Quotes by Edsger Dijkstra

Mathematicians are like managers - they want improvement without change.

~Edsger Dijkstra

Topics: Change Improvement Like Managers Mathematicians Want Without

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Perfecting oneself is as much unlearning as it is learning.

~Edsger Dijkstra

Topics: Learning Much Oneself Perfecting

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The traditional mathematician recognizes and appreciates mathematical elegance when he sees it. I propose to go one step further, and to consider elegance an essential ingredient of mathematics: if it is clumsy, it is not mathematics.

~Edsger Dijkstra

Topics: Appreciates Clumsy Consider Elegance Essential Further Go He Ingredient Mathematical Mathematician Mathematics Propose Sees Step Traditional

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The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.

~Edsger Dijkstra

Topics: Criminal Mind Offense Regarded Should Teaching Therefore Use

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The lurking suspicion that something could be simplified is the world's richest source of rewarding challenges.

~Edsger Dijkstra

Topics: Challenges Could Lurking Rewarding Richest Something Source Suspicion World

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Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons.

~Edsger Dijkstra

Topics: Chosen Compete Experience Firstly Me More Secondly Weapons

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Object-oriented programming is an exceptionally bad idea which could only have originated in California.

~Edsger Dijkstra

Topics: Bad Bad Idea California Could Exceptionally Idea Only Originated Programming Which

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The ability of discerning high quality unavoidably implies the ability of identifying shortcomings.

~Edsger Dijkstra

Topics: Ability Discerning High High Quality Identifying Implies Quality Shortcomings

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Many mathematicians derive part of their self-esteem by feeling themselves the proud heirs of a long tradition of rational thinking; I am afraid they idealize their cultural ancestors.

~Edsger Dijkstra

Topics: Afraid Am Ancestors Cultural Derive Feeling Heirs Idealize Long Long Tradition Many Mathematicians Part Proud Rational Self-Esteem Themselves Thinking Tradition I Am

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Teaching to unsuspecting youngsters the effective use of formal methods is one of the joys of life because it is so extremely rewarding.

~Edsger Dijkstra

Topics: Because Effective Extremely Formal Joys Life Methods Rewarding Teaching Use Youngsters

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Biography

Nationality: Dutch

Type: Scientist

Born: May 11th, 1930

Died: August 6th, 2002

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