Progress is possible only if we train ourselves to think about programs without thinking of them as pieces of executable code.
Edsger DijkstraRead
Aim for brevity while avoiding jargon.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Strive to be concise in communication without using complex language.
This quote by Edsger Dijkstra emphasizes the importance of clarity in communication. It advocates for delivering messages in a straightforward and simple manner, avoiding unnecessary technical jargon that can obscure meaning and lead to misunderstanding.
Themes
BrevityClarityCommunicationSimplicityUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a presentation about software development, you might say, 'As Edsger Dijkstra said, aim for brevity while avoiding jargon to ensure everyone understands.'
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.
Edsger DijkstraRead
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