Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Edsger Dijkstra

Quote by Edsger Dijkstra

Work

Selected Writings on Computing: A personal Perspective

This volume brings together a selection of writings that offer a personal viewpoint on computing. The author discusses foundational ideas, evolving practices, and significant milestones in computer science, drawing on their own experiences and observations. The essays explore topics such as programming, system design, and the broader impact of computing, providing insight into the author's intellectual journey and contributions to the discipline. more

Author

Edsger Dijkstra
Edsger Dijkstra

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. more

You May Also Like

“When I came back from Munich, it was September, and I was Professor of Mathematics at the Eindhoven University of Technology. Later I learned that I had been the Department's third choice, after two numerical analysts had turned the invitation down; the decision to invite me had not been an easy one, on the one hand because I had not really studied mathematics, and on the other hand because of my sandals, my beard and my "arrogance" (whatever that may be).”

MayTwoHandsChoicesEasyDecisionTechnologyThirdsMathematicsUniversityArroganceDepartmentProfessorsInvitesSeptemberInvitationsBeardAnalystsSandalsMunich
Author:Edsger Dijkstra
Create image

“In the wake of the Cultural Revolution and now of the recession I observe a mounting pressure to co-operate and to promote "teamwork." For its anti-individualistic streak, such a drive is of course highly suspect; some people may not be so sensitive to it, but having seen the Hitlerjugend in action suffices for the rest of your life to be very wary of "team spirit." Very.”

PeopleMayActionSpiritCoursesTeamRevolutionPressureSensitiveSuspectsTeamworkRest Of Your LifeRecessionsStreaksTeam SpiritIndividualistic
Author:Edsger Dijkstra
Create image

“The required techniques of effective reasoning are pretty formal, but as long as programming is done by people that don't master them, the software crisis will remain with us and will be considered an incurable disease. And you know what incurable diseases do: they invite the quacks and charlatans in, who in this case take the form of Software Engineering gurus.”

PeopleKnowsLongDoneFormCasesMastersDiseaseCrisisTechniqueReasoningProgrammingSoftwareInvitesEngineeringFormalGuruSoftware EngineeringCharlatansQuacksIncurable Disease
Author:Edsger Dijkstra
Create image

“I figure if I keep my health, I have no intention of retiring. I love to work. I want to be like Bob Hope. I want to keep on going out and doing what I love to do. Of course, I'm no Bob Hope, but I mean that feeling that you never are old and have things to offer and can be useful to somebody. I always want to be useful, I have no intentions of retiring unless I should get sick or something should happen to my husband. Other than that I'm going to work until I fall over.”

IfsWantShouldMeanFeelingsHappensAgeFallCoursesWorkFiguresHealthOffersHusbandSickIntentionMy HusbandRetiringBobGoing OutGoing To Work
Author:Dolly Parton
Create image