People who are more than casually interested in computers should have at least some idea of what the underlying hardware is like. Otherwise the programs they write will be pretty weird.

People think that computer science is the art of geniuses but the actual reality is the opposite, just many people doing things that build on each other, like a wall of mini stones.

The best theory is inspired by practice.

In fact what I would like to see is thousands of computer scientists let loose to do whatever they want. That's what really advances the field.

God is a challenge because there is no proof of his existence and therefore the search must continue.

When certain concepts of TeX are introduced informally, general rules will be stated; afterwards you will find that the rules aren't strictly true. In general, the later chapters contain more reliable information than the earlier ones do. The author feels that this technique of deliberate lying will actually make it easier for you to learn the ideas. Once you understand a simple but false rule, it will not be hard to supplement that rule with its exceptions.

By understanding a machine-oriented language, the programmer will tend to use a much more efficient method; it is much closer to reality.