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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

“When we had no computers, we had no programming problem either. When we had a few computers, we had a mild programming problem. Confronted with machines a million times as powerful, we are faced with a gigantic programming problem.”

Problem Powerful Millions Computer Machines Programming

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“In their capacity as a tool, computers will be but a ripple on the surface of our culture. In their capacity as intellectual challenge, they are without precedent in the cultural history of mankind.”

Culture Challenges Mankind Computer Intellectual Capacity Tools Surface Ripple Precedent

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

“It used to be the program's purpose to instruct our computers; it became the computer's purpose to execute our programs.”

Used Purpose Computer Program Used To Be

Book:A Discipline of Programming

Source: A Discipline of Programming

“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.”

“I mean, if 10 years from now, when you are doing something quick and dirty, you suddenly visualize that I am looking over your shoulders and say to yourself "Dijkstra would not have liked this," well, that would be enough immortality for me.”

Ifs Years Wells Mean Enough Would Be Computer Shoulders Dirty Immortality Programming Over You Computer Programmers Computer Software

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“LISP has jokingly been described as "the most intelligent way to misuse a computer." I think that description is a great compliment because it transmits the full flavour of liberation: it has assisted a number of our most gifted fellow humans in thinking previously impossible thoughts.”

Thinking Way Humans Numbers Impossible Computer Intelligent Fellows Liberation Description Compliment Gifted Flavor Transmit Misuse Lisp

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“FORTRAN, the infantile disorder, by now nearly 20 years old, is hopelessly inadequate for whatever computer application you have in mind today: it is now too clumsy, too risky, and too expensive to use.”

Years Mind Use Today Computer Expensive Programming Disorder Application Inadequate Programming Languages Clumsy Computer Language Infantile

Book:Selected Writings on Computing: A personal Perspective

Source: Selected Writings on Computing: A personal Perspective

“If we wish to count lines of code, we should not regard them as "lines produced" but as "lines spent."”

Ifs Should Wish Lines Learning Computer Regard Code Programming Computer Programming

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

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

“I don't need to waste my time with a computer just because I am a computer scientist.”

Needs Waste Computer Scientist My Time Programming Wasting My Time

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

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

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