But quality of work can be expected only through personal satisfaction, dedication and enjoyment. In our profession, precision and perfection are not a dispensable luxury, but a simple necessity.
Niklaus WirthRead
Increasingly, people seem to misinterpret complexity as sophistication, which is baffling -- the incomprehensible should cause suspicion rather than admiration.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Complexity should not be mistaken for sophistication; instead, we should be cautious of what we cannot understand.
In this quote, Niklaus Wirth points out a common misconception where people regard complex ideas or systems as more sophisticated or valuable than simpler ones. He argues that true sophistication should be grounded in clarity and understanding, and that when we encounter something incomprehensible, it should raise our suspicions rather than earn our admiration.
Themes
ComplexitySophisticationUnderstandingSuspicion
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about technology, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of simplicity in design.
More from Niklaus Wirth
All quotes →Complexity has and will maintain a strong fascination for many people. It is true that we live in a complex world and strive to solve inherently complex problems, which often do require complex mechanisms. However, this should not diminish our desire for elegant solutions, which convince by their clarity and effectiveness. Simple, elegant solutions are more effective, but they are harder to find than complex ones, and they require more time, which we too often believe to be unaffordable
Niklaus WirthRead
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