Progress is possible only if we train ourselves to think about programs without thinking of them as pieces of executable code.
Edsger DijkstraRead
Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of experience and preparation in competition.
Edsger Dijkstraβs quote suggests that competition is not only about who is stronger or faster; it also involves knowledge, experience, and strategy. By stating he has 'chosen the weapons,' Dijkstra implies that he has the advantage due to careful preparation and understanding of the context of the competition, which often outweighs mere enthusiasm or raw talent.
Themes
CompetitionExperienceStrategyAdvantagePreparation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech to encourage people to value experience over mere enthusiasm.
More from Edsger Dijkstra
All quotes βSimplicity is prerequisite for reliability.
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The purpose of abstraction is not to be vague, but to create a new semantic level in which one can be absolutely precise.
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We shall do a much better programming job, provided that we approach the task with a full appreciation of its tremendous difficulty, provided that we stick to modest and elegant programming languages, provided that we respect the intrinsic limitations of the human mind and approach the task as Very Humble Programmers.
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The tools we use have a profound and devious influence on our thinking habits, and therefore on our thinking abilities.
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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.
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