Progress is possible only if we train ourselves to think about programs without thinking of them as pieces of executable code.
Edsger DijkstraRead
I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because these days, excellence is a fashionable concept. But excellence is a competitive notion, and that is not what we are heading for: we are heading for perfection.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the difference between excellence and perfection, suggesting that the pursuit of perfection should not be rooted in competition.
Edsger Dijkstra points out a crucial distinction between excellence and perfection, arguing that the current trend centers around the concept of excellence, which inherently fosters competition. He asserts that instead of striving for excellence, we should aim for perfection, which should be a personal or collective endeavor rather than a competitive one. This perspective encourages individuals and teams to focus on their own improvement without being influenced by comparative outcomes with others.
Themes
ExcellencePerfectionCompetitionSpiritNotion
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting on project goals, I could use this quote to emphasize the importance of striving for perfection over merely achieving excellence.
More from Edsger Dijkstra
All quotes →Simplicity 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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