Home / Authors / Edsger Dijkstra

Edsger Dijkstra Quotes

Computer Scientist

Edsger Dijkstra was a Dutch computer scientist known for his contributions to algorithms and programming language design. His work in graph theory, algorithm analysis, and formal methods had a profound impact on the field of computer science.

Famous Edsger Dijkstra Quotes

“Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes, biology is about microscopes or chemistry is about beakers and test tubes. Science is not about tools. It is about how we use them, and what we find out when we do.”

Use Computer Tools Tests Astronomy Biology Chemistry Tubes Computer Science Telescopes Microscopes

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“[Though computer science is a fairly new discipline, it is predominantly based on the Cartesian world view. As Edsgar W. Dijkstra has pointed out] A scientific discipline emerges with the - usually rather slow! - discovery of which aspects can be meaningfully 'studied' in isolation for the sake of their own consistency.”

World Views Discipline Computer Discovery Aspect Sake Isolation Consistency Computer Science World View

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“Computer science has as much to do with computers as astronomy has to do with telescopes.”

Computer Astronomy Computer Science Telescopes

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“The question of whether computers can think is like the question of whether submarines can swim.”

Thinking Technology Computer Programming Swim Programmers Computer Programming Computer Science Software Engineering Submarines Computer Programmers Funny Computer

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.”

“If debugging is the process of removing software bugs, then programming must be the process of putting them in.”

“It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that have had a prior exposure to BASIC: as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration.”

Teach Impossible Students Programming Exposure Programmers Computer Programming Computer Science Programming Languages Computer Language Regeneration Computer Programmers Programming Funny

Book:Selected Writings on Computing: A personal Perspective

Source: Selected Writings on Computing: A personal Perspective

“Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.”

About the Author

Born: May 11, 1930
Died: August 6, 2002
Known for: Computer Scientist
Quotes: 105

Books & Sources

Selected Writings on Computing: A personal PerspectiveRelated source material

A Discipline of ProgrammingRelated source material

Similar Authors

Alan PerlisBrowse related quotes
Donald KnuthBrowse related quotes
Tony HoareBrowse related quotes
Richard E. PattisBrowse related quotes
Brian KernighanBrowse related quotes
Niklaus WirthBrowse related quotes
Bjarne StroustrupBrowse related quotes
Fred BrooksBrowse related quotes
Steve McConnellBrowse related quotes
Bertrand MeyerBrowse related quotes

Edsger Dijkstra Quotes

Filter quotes by topic

Famous Edsger Dijkstra Quotes