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

“I think of the company advertising "Thought Processors" or the college pretending that learning BASIC suffices or at least helps, whereas the teaching of BASIC should be rated as a criminal offence: it mutilates the mind beyond recovery.”

Thinking Should Mind Helping Company Teaching College Criminals Recovery Advertising Pretending Offence Processors

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“Probably I am very naive, but I also think I prefer to remain so, at least for the time being and perhaps for the rest of my life.”

Thinking Naive

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“It is a mistake to think that programmers wares are programs. Programmers have to produce trustworthy solutions and present it in the form of cogent arguments. Programs source code is just the accompanying material to which these arguments are to be applied to.”

Thinking Form Mistake Produce Materials Source Solutions Program Argument Code Programmers Trustworthy

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“A programming language is a tool that has profound influence on our thinking habits.”

Thinking Language Influence Habit Tools Profound Programming Computer Programming Programming Languages

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

“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

“Progress is possible only if we train ourselves to think about programs without thinking of them as pieces of executable code.”

Ifs Thinking Learning Pieces Progress Program Train Code Programming

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“The tools we use have a profound and devious influence on our thinking habits, and therefore on our thinking abilities.”

Thinking Use Ability Learning Influence Habit Tools Profound Programming Computer Programming Programming Languages Computer Language Devious

Book:Selected Writings on Computing: A personal Perspective

Source: Selected Writings on Computing: A personal Perspective

“Many mathematicians derive part of their self-esteem by feeling themselves the proud heirs of a long tradition of rational thinking; I am afraid they idealize their cultural ancestors.”

Thinking Long Self Feelings Self Esteem Proud Tradition Rational Esteem Ancestor Mathematician Rational Thinking Heirs

Author:Edsger Dijkstra

“A most important, but also most elusive, aspect of any tool is its influence on the habits of those who train themselves in its use. If the tool is a programming language this influence is, whether we like it or not, an influence on our thinking habits.... A programming language is a tool that has profound influence on our thinking habits.”

Ifs Thinking Important Use Language Learning Influence Habit Aspect Tools Train Profound Programming Elusive Computer Programming Programming Languages Computer Language

Book:A Discipline of Programming

Source: A Discipline of Programming

“We are all shaped by the tools we use, in particular: the formalisms we use shape our thinking habits, for better or for worse, and that means that we have to be very careful in the choice of what we learn and teach, for unlearning is not really possible.”

Thinking Mean Use Choices Teach Learning Particular Habit Shapes Tools Careful Programming

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

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