Dennis Ritchie

UNIX is basically a simple operating system, but you have to be a genius to understand the simplicity.

C is quirky, flawed, and an enormous success.

The C language is not a 'high-level' language in the sense of Pascal or Ada. It is a relatively low-level language, in that it deals with the same sort of objects that most computers do: characters, numbers, and addresses.

UNIX was not designed to be easy to use; it was designed to be easy to build.

The only way to learn a new programming language is by writing programs in it.

C has been characterized as a 'high-level assembly language.'

The success of UNIX and C is a testament to the power of simplicity and generality.

We wanted to make a system that was pleasant to use, and that was easy to build, and that was easy to maintain.

C is a relatively small language, and it is not intended for any one particular application area.

The design of C was driven by the desire to produce a language that was efficient and portable.

UNIX was a reaction against the complexity of other operating systems.

The C language is a general-purpose programming language, suitable for a wide range of applications.

One of the strengths of C is its ability to access the underlying machine architecture.

The UNIX philosophy is to do one thing and do it well.

C is a language that allows you to get close to the hardware, but still provides a level of abstraction.

The evolution of C was driven by practical considerations.

UNIX was a collaborative effort, and that was one of its strengths.

The C language is a powerful tool, but it requires discipline to use effectively.

We were trying to build a system that was useful for ourselves.

The C language was designed to be implemented efficiently on a wide variety of machines.