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. (关于工具,一个最重要的,也是最不易察觉的方面是,工具对使用此工具的人的习惯的潜移默化的影响。如果这个工具是一门程序语言,不管我们是否喜欢它,它都会影响我们的思维惯式。 –Edsger Dijkstra, 计算机科学家,著名的“程序=数据结构+算法”的提出者)
— Edsger Dijkstra, computer scientist
Being abstract is something profoundly different from being vague… The purpose of abstraction is not to be vague, but to create a new semantic level in which one can be absolutely precise. (抽象和模糊完全地不同,抽象的目的并不是把事情变模糊,而去创建一个新的语义层,在那里是绝对精确的描述。)
— Edsger Dijkstra
Besides a mathematical inclination, an exceptionally good mastery of one’s native tongue is the most vital asset of a competent programmer. (除了数学爱好,对于一个有能力的程序员来说,出色地掌握自己的母语是最宝贵的财富。)
— Edsger Dijkstra