In computing, the mean time to failure keeps getting shorter. ALAN PERLIS ComputeFailureGetMeanShorterTime
To understand a program, you must become both the machine and the program. ALAN PERLIS BecomeLevelLowMachineUnderstand Program
FORTRAN is not a flower but a weed – it is hardy, occasionally blooms, and grows in every computer. ALAN PERLIS BloomComputerFlowerForteanGrowHardyOccasionallyWeed
In man-machine symbiosis, it is man who must adjust: The machines can’t. ALAN PERLIS AdjustMachineManMustSymbiosis
If your computer speaks English, it was probably made in Japan. ALAN PERLIS ComputerCountryEnglishMadeProbablySpeak
“Toward what end, toward what end?”-but do not ask it too often lest you pass up the fun of programming for the constipation of bittersweet philosophy. ALAN PERLIS BittersweetEndFunLeastOftenPassPhilosophyProgramToward
Don’t have good ideas if you aren’t willing to be responsible for them. ALAN PERLIS GoodIdeaResponsibleThemWill
Learning French is trivial: the word for horse is cheval, and everything else follows in the same way. ALAN PERLIS ChevalEverythingFollowHorseLanguageLearnSameTrivialWayWord
There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works. ALAN PERLIS ErrorProgramThirdWayWork
What fun is there in making plans, acquiring discipline in organizing thoughts, devoting attention to detail and learning to be self-critical? ALAN PERLIS AcquireAttentionCriticalDetailDevoteFunMakeOrganizationPlanSelf
Hardly any sets of 10K words can be adequately described with pictures. ALAN PERLIS AdequatelyDescribeHardlyPictureSetTenThousandWord
You can measure a programmer’s perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN. ALAN PERLIS AttitudeContinueMeasureNothingPerspectiveProgrammeRothman
It goes against the grain of modern education to teach children to program. ALAN PERLIS AgainstChildrenEducationGoGrainModernProgramTeach
When a professor insists computer science is X but not Y, have compassion for his graduate students. ALAN PERLIS CompassionComputerGraduateInstistProfessorScienceStudent
One can’t proceed from the informal to the formal by formal means. ALAN PERLIS FormalInformalMeanProceed
A good programming language is a conceptual universe for thinking about programming. ALAN PERLIS ConceptualGoodLanguageProgramThinkUniverse
If a listener nods his head when you’re explaining your program, wake him up. ALAN PERLIS ExplainHeadListenerNodProgramWake
I hope the field of computer science never loses its sense of fun. ALAN PERLIS ComputerFieldFunHopeLoseScienceSense
Because of its vitality, the computing field is always in desperate need of new cliches. ALAN PERLIS AlwaysClickComputeDesperateFieldVitality
That it is meant to be discarded: that the whole point is to always see it as a soap bubble? ALAN PERLIS AlwaysBuddleDiscardMeantPointSeeSoapWhole
