Radia Perlman
Often called the 'Mother of the Internet' for her invention of the Spanning Tree Protocol.
Most quoted
"We build systems that are incredibly complex, and then we're surprised when they fail. It's like building a house of cards and being surprised when it falls down."
— from Conference talk
"The Internet is a testament to the fact that if you give people enough rope, they'll hang themselves... and then complain about the rope."
— from Talk/Presentation
"The Spanning Tree Protocol is a testament to the fact that you can't always get what you want, but you can always get what you need."
— from Various interviews and talks
All quotes by Radia Perlman (341)
The internet is not designed for security. It's designed for connectivity.
We're building a house of cards with the internet.
The biggest mistake in computer science is thinking that you can solve human problems with technology.
I don't believe in 'best practices.' I believe in 'thoughtful practices.'
The problem with standards is that everyone wants their own standard.
IPv6 is a solution looking for a problem.
The internet is not a democracy. It's a collection of fiefdoms.
I don't think we need more protocols. We need better protocols.
The cloud is just someone else's computer.
Blockchain is a solution looking for a problem, and it's not a very good solution.
The biggest challenge in security is not the technology, it's the human element.
We're making things too complicated. Simplicity is key.
The internet is a wonderful tool, but it's also a dangerous weapon.
I'm not a fan of buzzwords. They obscure understanding.
The biggest myth in computer science is that more features are always better.
If you want to build a secure system, assume everything will fail.
The internet is not resilient. It's fragile.
We're too focused on the 'what' and not enough on the 'why.'
The biggest problem with the internet is that it's too successful.
I don't trust anything that's 'too good to be true.'
Contemporaries of Radia Perlman
Other Computer Sciences born within 50 years of Radia Perlman (1951).