Ken Thompson

To what extent can one trust a statement that says 'I am trustworthy'?

The only way to be sure is to write it yourself.

I'm not a programmer. I'm a computer scientist.

Plan to throw one away; you will, anyhow.

I'm not a big fan of object-oriented programming. I think it's a lot of hype.

If you have a choice between a simple solution and a complex one, choose the simple one. It's almost always better.

Unix is simple. It just takes a genius to understand its simplicity.

The most important thing in programming is to be able to read the code.

I didn't design Unix to be a general-purpose operating system. I designed it to be a tool for myself.

I'm not a fan of large teams. I think small teams are more effective.

I'm not interested in making money. I'm interested in making good software.

I'm not a fan of formal methods. I think they're too rigid.

The most important thing in a programming language is its expressiveness.

I'm not a fan of big operating systems. I think they're too complex.

The only way to build a good system is to start small and iterate.

I'm not a fan of GUIs. I think they're too restrictive.

The most important thing in a computer system is its reliability.

I'm not a fan of databases. I think they're too complicated.

The only way to write good documentation is to write it as you go.

I'm not a fan of artificial intelligence. I think it's overhyped.