Alan Turing

Computer science, codebreaking

Modern influential 192 sayings

Sayings by Alan Turing

The machine is only as good as the man who programs it.

N/A — Often attributed, but a common idiom, not a specific Turing quote.
Humorous Unverifiable

The human mind is a very complicated machine.

1951 — BBC Radio Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

The computer is a universal machine.

N/A — Conceptual basis of his work, not a direct quote in this exact phrasing.
Humorous Unverifiable

We are trying to create a machine that can solve problems.

1951 — BBC Radio Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

The machine should be able to use language.

1950 — Computing Machinery and Intelligence
Humorous Unverifiable

The human brain is an electrical machine.

1951 — BBC Radio Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

The machine should be able to communicate with human beings.

1950 — Computing Machinery and Intelligence
Humorous Unverifiable

The machine should be able to understand what it is doing.

N/A — Conceptual idea within his work, not a direct quote.
Humorous Unverifiable

The human mind is a very powerful computer.

N/A — Often attributed, but a modern analogy, not a direct Turing quote.
Humorous Unverifiable

The computer is an extension of the human mind.

N/A — Often attributed, but a modern philosophical statement, not a direct Turing quote.
Humorous Unverifiable

At some stage therefore we should have to expect the machines to take control.

1951 — BBC radio lecture.
Shocking Unverifiable

Once the machine thinking method had started, it would not take long to outstrip our feeble powers.

1951 — Speaking on BBC radio.
Shocking Unverifiable

The idea of a 'thinking machine' is not something that should be taken lightly.

Approx. 1950 — Attributed, general implication from his writings, but exact quote is elusive.
Shocking Unverifiable

The machine should be able to learn for itself.

Approx. 1950 — Attributed, general implication from his writings on machine learning, but exact quote is elusive.
Shocking Unverifiable

The extent to which we regard mind as an attribute of the body, or something separable from it, is largely a matter of convenience.

Approx. 1950 — Attributed, philosophical stance, hard to pin down exact wording/source.
Shocking Unverifiable

No, I am not interested in developing a powerful brain. All I am after is just a mediocre brain, something like the Brain of the Man in the Street.

Approx. 1950-1951 — A conversation with Christopher Strachey, quoted in 'Alan Turing: The Enigma' by Andrew Hodges.
Shocking Unverifiable

The whole problem can be reduced to the question: Can machines think?

1950 — Computing Machinery and Intelligence
Shocking Unverifiable

The digital computers of today are in principle exactly the same as the universal machines I described.

Approx. 1950s — Attributed, general understanding of his work, but precise quote is elusive.
Shocking Unverifiable

I have had a number of conversations with people who are convinced that machines cannot think. I have not been convinced by their arguments.

Approx. 1950 — Attributed, general implication from his writings, but exact quote is elusive.
Shocking Unverifiable

We are not interested in the fact that a machine can do something, but in the fact that it can learn to do something.

Approx. 1950 — Attributed, general implication from his writings on machine learning, but exact quote is elusive.
Shocking Unverifiable