Quotes from Alan Perlis


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    Some programming languages manage to absorb change, but withstand progress.

    Change | Progress | Absorb


    It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.

    Change | Easier | Vice


    Every program has two purposes: The one for which it was written and another for which it wasn't.

    Written | Program


    Don't have good ideas if you aren't willing to be responsible for them.

    Good | Ideas | Willing


    The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

    Field | Computing | Cliches


    If your computer speaks English, it was probably made in Japan.

    Computers | Japan | English


    I think it is inevitable that people program poorly. Training will not substantially help matters. We have to learn to live with it.

    Technology | Training | Help


    You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN.

    Attitude | Measure | Vitality


    There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.

    Third | Ways | Programs


    The best book on programming for the layman is 'Alice in Wonderland'; but that's because it's the best book on anything for the layman.

    Best | Wonderland | Alice


    One man's constant is another man's variable.

    Constant | Variable


    LISP programmers know the value of everything and the cost of nothing.

    Value | Cost | Lisp


    Is it possible that software is not like anything else, that it is meant to be discarded: that the whole point is to always see it as a soap bubble?

    Software | Soap | Possible


    If a listener nods his head when you're explaining your program, wake him up.

    Head | Listener | Explaining


    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.

    Education | Learning | Self


    A programming language is low level when its programs require attention to the irrelevant.

    Language | Attention | Level


    A picture is worth 10K words - but only those to describe the picture. Hardly any sets of 10K words can be adequately described with pictures.

    Words | Picture | Worth


    In English every word can be verbed. Would that it were so in our programming languages.

    Word | English | Languages


    If you have a procedure with 10 parameters, you probably missed some.

    Procedure | Missed


    Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

    Simplicity | Complexity


       

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