Edsger Dijkstra

The most effective debugging tool is still careful thought, coupled with well-placed print statements.

To me, the most important function of a programming language is to help me think.

The greatest danger in computer science is that it will be used to automate stupidity.

We must not forget that the purpose of computing is insight, not numbers.

The only way to keep a program small is to keep it simple.

The most important thing in programming is to avoid making mistakes.

The computing community has a moral obligation to educate the public about the dangers of irresponsible use of technology.

The only way to write correct programs is to write programs that are obviously correct.

The most important lesson I have learned is that the quality of a program is determined by the quality of the programmer's thinking.

The future of computing is in the hands of those who can think clearly and precisely.

The greatest enemy of good software is the desire to build too much too soon.

The only way to understand a program is to write it yourself.

The beauty of a program lies in its elegance and simplicity.

The only way to make progress in computer science is to constantly question our assumptions.

The most important skill for a programmer is the ability to abstract.

The only way to build reliable systems is to build them from reliable components.

The greatest challenge in computing is to manage complexity.

The only way to write good software is to write it with a clear understanding of the problem it is trying to solve.

The most important thing in education is to teach people how to think, not what to think.

The only way to achieve clarity is to be precise.