We are on the verge: Today our program proved Fermat's next-to-last theorem. Alan Perlis More Quotes by Alan Perlis More Quotes From Alan Perlis Optimization hinders evolution. Alan Perlis programming learning evolution Often it is the means that justify the ends: goals advance technique and technique survives even when goal structures crumble. Alan Perlis technique goal mean 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. Alan Perlis wonderland programming book One can only display complex information in the mind. Like seeing, movement or flow or alteration of view is more important than the static picture, no matter how lovely. Alan Perlis lovely views mind Once you understand how to write a program get someone else to write it. Alan Perlis program writing 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. Alan Perlis swag swagger One can't proceed from the informal to the formal by formal means. Alan Perlis formal mean If you have a procedure with 10 parameters, you probably missed some. Alan Perlis parameters computing procedures Because of its vitality, the computing field is always in desperate need of new cliches: Banality soothes our nerves. Alan Perlis technology humorous needs FORTRAN is not a flower but a weed - it is hardy, occasionally blooms, and grows in every computer. Alan Perlis computer weed flower We toast the Lisp programmer who pens his thoughts within nests of parentheses. Alan Perlis parentheses ballpoint-pens nests You think you KNOW when you learn, are more sure when you can write, even more when you can teach, but certain when you can program. Alan Perlis learning writing thinking I think that it's extraordinarily important that we in computer science keep fun in computing. When it started out, it was an awful lot of fun. Of course, the paying customers got shafted every now and then, and after a while we began to take their complaints seriously. We began to feel as if we really were responsible for the successful, error-free perfect use of these machines. I don't think we are. I think we're responsible for stretching them, setting them off in new directions, and keeping fun in the house. I hope the field of computer science never loses its sense of fun. Alan Perlis learning successful fun Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer. Alan Perlis computer-science embarrassed computer Every reader should ask himself periodically “Toward what end, toward what end?”—but do not ask it too often lest you pass up the fun of programming for the constipation of bittersweet philosophy. Alan Perlis bittersweet fun philosophy There is no such thing as a free variable. Alan Perlis variables 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 thoughts learning self education Every program has two purposes: The one for which it was written and another for which it wasn't. Alan Perlis which every another two It is easier to write an incorrect program than understand a correct one. Alan Perlis correct than write understand LISP programmers know the value of everything and the cost of nothing. Alan Perlis value nothing everything know
