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)
Collaboration accelerates discovery.
Encryption is the foundation of trust in digital communication.
I've learned that failure is just data for the next iteration.
Switches are the unsung heroes of the network.
In tech, humility keeps you learning.
The protocol I designed wasn't perfect, but it worked.
Computer science is poetry in binary.
Bugs are inevitable; debugging is an art form.
Interconnections define our modern world.
Mentoring the next generation is my greatest joy.
Scalability is the Achilles' heel of many designs.
I thrive on solving puzzles that others avoid.
Networks evolve, but core principles endure.
A good comeback in a debate: 'Your protocol has loops; mine doesn't.'
Wisdom in CS comes from experience, not just theory.
The future of networking is secure and inclusive.
From MIT to DEC, curiosity drove me.
Loops in networks are like bad habits: hard to break.
True innovation requires risk-taking.
My work on bridges opened doors I didn't know existed.
Contemporaries of Radia Perlman
Other Computer Sciences born within 50 years of Radia Perlman (1951).