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 a wild west. There are no sheriffs.
We need to stop building on quicksand and start building on solid ground.
The future of the internet is not more complexity, but more simplicity.
I'm not a fan of hype. I'm a fan of substance.
The biggest threat to the internet is not external attacks, but internal flaws.
We're constantly reinventing the wheel, but making it square.
The internet is a testament to human ingenuity, and human folly.
I believe in building things that are robust, not just functional.
The internet is a victim of its own success.
Don't optimize for things that don't matter.
The internet is not a single entity. It's a collection of networks.
The internet is a mirror of humanity, with all its good and bad.
I'm not afraid to be wrong. I'm afraid to stop learning.
The internet is a mess, but it's our mess.
We need to design for failure, not just for success.
The internet is a powerful tool, but it's not a panacea.
I believe in questioning assumptions, especially my own.
The internet is a constant work in progress.
We need to focus on the fundamentals, not just the fads.
The internet is a reflection of our society.
Contemporaries of Radia Perlman
Other Computer Sciences born within 50 years of Radia Perlman (1951).