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.

Elegance is not a dispensable luxury but a factor that decides between success and failure.

FORTRAN, the infantile disorder, by now nearly 20 years old, is hopelessly inadequate for whatever computer application you have in mind today: it is now too clumsy, too risky, and too expensive to use.

APL is a mistake, carried through to perfection.

If you want more effective programmers, you will discover that they should not waste their time debugging, they should not introduce the bugs to start with.

Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons.

Production speed is severely slowed down if one works with half-time people who have other obligations as well. This is at least a factor of four; probably it is worse.