Quotes I like
Math
In abandoning exact computation we sell our souls, and in return we get some numbers.
– FRS Prof. Nick Trefethen on IEEE standard Computing Numerically with functions instead of numbers
“Far better an approximate answer to the right question, which is often vague, than an exact answer to the wrong question, which can always be made precise.”
– J W Tokey
Since a digital computer employs only the usual operations of arithmetic, we must convert the equation under consideration into a form which requires only the use of these operations, and requires no transcendental operations such as differentiation and integration. This means that we must approximate to integrals by sums and to derivatives by differences. This approximation can be done in an unlimited number of ways, requiring a careful balancing of accuracy factors, stability factors, and time factors. All of this means, of course, that at the present time numerical computation is more of an art than a science.
Richard Bellman (Chapter 5, Applied Dynamic Programming)
– FRS Prof. Nick Trefethen on IEEE standard Computing Numerically with functions instead of numbers
“Far better an approximate answer to the right question, which is often vague, than an exact answer to the wrong question, which can always be made precise.”
– J W Tokey
Since a digital computer employs only the usual operations of arithmetic, we must convert the equation under consideration into a form which requires only the use of these operations, and requires no transcendental operations such as differentiation and integration. This means that we must approximate to integrals by sums and to derivatives by differences. This approximation can be done in an unlimited number of ways, requiring a careful balancing of accuracy factors, stability factors, and time factors. All of this means, of course, that at the present time numerical computation is more of an art than a science.
Richard Bellman (Chapter 5, Applied Dynamic Programming)
Science
But the earth scorns our simplifications, and becomes much more interesting in its derision.
– Prof. Steven Gould, Wonderful Life (p52)
A positive attitude does not cure cancer, any more than a negative one causes it.
– Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee (Author of Emperor of All Maladies)
– Prof. Steven Gould, Wonderful Life (p52)
A positive attitude does not cure cancer, any more than a negative one causes it.
– Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee (Author of Emperor of All Maladies)
Programming
As a general rule, with Julia one needs to unlearn the instinct (from Matlab or Python) that “efficiency == clever use of library functions”, which turns all optimization questions into “is there a built-in function for X” (and if the answer is “no” you are out of luck). Loops are fast, and you can easily beat general-purpose library functions with your own special-purpose code.
– Steven G. Johnson (Julia mailing list, 12/03/2015)
Everyone knows that debugging is twice as hard as writing a program in the first place. So if you’re as clever as you can be when you write it, how will you ever debug it?
– Brian W. Kernigham
Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.
– Martin Fowler
Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live.
– John Woods
Code is like humour. When you have to explain it, it’s bad.
– Cory House
On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], ‘Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?’ I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.
– Charles Babbage (These days similar kind of questions are asked regarding ML.)
Walking on water and developing software from a specification are easy if both are frozen.
– Edward Berard
Some of the best programming is done on paper, really. Putting it into the computer is just a minor detail.
– Max Kanat-Alexander, Code Simplicity: The Fundamentals of Software
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.
– Rick Cook, The Wizardry Compiled
When to use iterative development? You should use iterative development only on projects that you want to succeed.
– Martin Fowler
With software there are only two possibilities: either the users control the programme or the programme controls the users. If the programme controls the users, and the developer controls the programme, then the programme is an instrument of unjust power.
– Richard Stallman
Make it work, make it right, make it fast.
– Kent Beck
Simplicity is the soul of efficiency.
– Austin Freeman
– Damian Conway (American Programmer)
The problem with
– Larry Wall (Creator of Pearl)
– Niklaus Wirth (Creator of Pascal)
Before software can be reusable it first has to be usable.
Ralph Johnson
– Steven G. Johnson (Julia mailing list, 12/03/2015)
Everyone knows that debugging is twice as hard as writing a program in the first place. So if you’re as clever as you can be when you write it, how will you ever debug it?
– Brian W. Kernigham
Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.
– Martin Fowler
Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live.
– John Woods
Code is like humour. When you have to explain it, it’s bad.
– Cory House
On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], ‘Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?’ I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.
– Charles Babbage (These days similar kind of questions are asked regarding ML.)
Walking on water and developing software from a specification are easy if both are frozen.
– Edward Berard
Some of the best programming is done on paper, really. Putting it into the computer is just a minor detail.
– Max Kanat-Alexander, Code Simplicity: The Fundamentals of Software
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.
– Rick Cook, The Wizardry Compiled
When to use iterative development? You should use iterative development only on projects that you want to succeed.
– Martin Fowler
With software there are only two possibilities: either the users control the programme or the programme controls the users. If the programme controls the users, and the developer controls the programme, then the programme is an instrument of unjust power.
– Richard Stallman
Make it work, make it right, make it fast.
– Kent Beck
Simplicity is the soul of efficiency.
– Austin Freeman
C++ tries to guard against Murphy, not Machiavelli.– Damian Conway (American Programmer)
The problem with
C++ is that there’s already a strong tendency in the language to require you to know everything before you can do anything.– Larry Wall (Creator of Pearl)
C++ is an insult to the human brain.– Niklaus Wirth (Creator of Pascal)
Before software can be reusable it first has to be usable.
Ralph Johnson
Fluids
Numerical work has been done by the aid of an ordinary 25 c.m. slide rule, with a liability to error of about 1/5th of 1 per cent., an amount which is quite unimportant.
– Preface of “Aerodynamics, constituting the first volume of a complete work on aerial flight” by Frederick Lanchester (1907)
– Preface of “Aerodynamics, constituting the first volume of a complete work on aerial flight” by Frederick Lanchester (1907)
General
You can’t imagine how much a dead man weighs.
– Gabriel García Márquez
Reality provides us with facts so romantic that imagination itself could add nothing to them.
– Jules Verne
Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion.
– Thoman Henry Huxley
Go photographying from place to place. Trying to capture the essence in ashes. But they are not at fault. What are they supposed to do? Die without even having a false claim to success, happiness and most of all satisfaction? Their lives are flowing irresistably, unidirectionally to that one end from which they cannot escape. Right from their genesis, they are destined to live for death.
– Anon (Mostly written in Haridwar while observing a family bathing at the Shiv temple)
The trust in her dark eyes snapped awake an instinctive devotion in me – the foundation of the bond that grew between us.
– (Guardian Article)[https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/apr/09/a-moment-that-changed-me-i-brought-a-baby-gorilla-home-and-learned-so-much-about-being-a-parent]
– Gabriel García Márquez
Reality provides us with facts so romantic that imagination itself could add nothing to them.
– Jules Verne
Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion.
– Thoman Henry Huxley
Go photographying from place to place. Trying to capture the essence in ashes. But they are not at fault. What are they supposed to do? Die without even having a false claim to success, happiness and most of all satisfaction? Their lives are flowing irresistably, unidirectionally to that one end from which they cannot escape. Right from their genesis, they are destined to live for death.
– Anon (Mostly written in Haridwar while observing a family bathing at the Shiv temple)
The trust in her dark eyes snapped awake an instinctive devotion in me – the foundation of the bond that grew between us.
– (Guardian Article)[https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/apr/09/a-moment-that-changed-me-i-brought-a-baby-gorilla-home-and-learned-so-much-about-being-a-parent]
Funny
I noticed that people are plugging their own wares in the Fiver as prizes for the letter of the day. I considered offering a copy of my own book which is a collection of quotes about the benefits of positive thinking and the power of optimism, but then I realised that knowing my luck I would probably win it myself.
– Chris Harrison in BBC Fiver
I’m gonna try to go the rest of the class without saying or writing anything that’s wrong.
– Nick Trefethen
Damn AI taking the jobs of the humble click farmer. Is there anywhere online that we can access fair trade content, where I can be sure the likes and shares I am seeing go to supporting sustainable, economically responsible click farms?
Reddit Anonymous user 2024
– Chris Harrison in BBC Fiver
I’m gonna try to go the rest of the class without saying or writing anything that’s wrong.
– Nick Trefethen
Damn AI taking the jobs of the humble click farmer. Is there anywhere online that we can access fair trade content, where I can be sure the likes and shares I am seeing go to supporting sustainable, economically responsible click farms?
Reddit Anonymous user 2024
Dark
Here is a dark passage from some book. If you know the author of this passage, do let me know.
Sweet darkness come to me, surround me, envelope me, penetrate me, fill me, devour my soul;
take me to the depths of emptiness that only you can promise.
Protect me from the harsh and unforgiving light that I may thrive in the rotting essence of being.
Make my life a veil of madness that I may overcome all those that would oppose or challenge me.
Raise within me the mindless monster that I turned from those many years ago that I may once again rule as I am destined to rule.
Ah the sweet oblivion of freedom caused by others turning from me, those who betrayed me, who will feel the swift thrust of my revenge as I devour their souls.
Every move intent on obliteration, every raging charge leaving a path of blood-soaked earth behind.
There is no innocence and none to stop me.
To the darkness I vow complete and total allegiance, now and forever.
take me to the depths of emptiness that only you can promise.
Protect me from the harsh and unforgiving light that I may thrive in the rotting essence of being.
Make my life a veil of madness that I may overcome all those that would oppose or challenge me.
Raise within me the mindless monster that I turned from those many years ago that I may once again rule as I am destined to rule.
Ah the sweet oblivion of freedom caused by others turning from me, those who betrayed me, who will feel the swift thrust of my revenge as I devour their souls.
Every move intent on obliteration, every raging charge leaving a path of blood-soaked earth behind.
There is no innocence and none to stop me.
To the darkness I vow complete and total allegiance, now and forever.