Grace Murray Hopper
A pioneer in computer programming, she developed the first compiler and co-developed COBOL.
Most quoted
"I had a very good friend who said, 'I don't know how you can stand to work with computers, they're so impersonal.' I told her, 'It's the people I work with who are impersonal; the computers are very cooperative.'"
— from Attributed
"We're flooding people with information. We need to feed it through a processor. A human must turn information into intelligence or knowledge. We've tended to forget that no computer will ever ask a new question."
— from Speech, 1982
"In pioneer days they used oxen for heavy pulling, and when one ox couldn't budge a log, they didn't try to grow a larger ox. We shouldn't be trying for bigger computers, but for more systems of computers."
— from Speech, 1981
All quotes by Grace Murray Hopper (302)
I'm not a leader. I'm a follower.
The most important thing is to have courage.
I'm not a hero. I'm just a person who tries to do the right thing.
The only way to achieve your dreams is to work for them.
I'm not a role model. I'm just a person who tries to be a good example.
The most important thing is to never give up.
I'm not a legend. I'm just a person who loves what I do.
The only way to be truly happy is to follow your passion.
I'm not a guru. I'm just a person who shares what I've learned.
The most important thing is to make a difference.
I'm not a celebrity. I'm just a person who loves to learn and grow.
It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.
The most damaging phrase in the language is 'It's always been done that way.'
A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for. Sail out to sea and do something.
Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, 'We've always done it this way.' I try to fight that.
That's how long a nanosecond is.
First actual case of bug being found.
Life was simple before World War II. After that, we had systems.
The future is full of surprises.
Programming languages should be designed not to be computer-oriented, but rather to be oriented towards the person who is going to use them.
Contemporaries of Grace Murray Hopper
Other Computer Sciences born within 50 years of Grace Murray Hopper (1906–1992).