But active programming consists of the design of new programs, rather than contemplation of old programs.

The belief that complex systems require armies of designers and programmers is wrong. A system that is not understood in its entirety, or at least to a significant degree of detail by a single individual, should probably not be built.

Professors typically spend their time in meetings about planning, policy, proposals, fund-raising, consulting, interviewing, traveling, and so forth, but spend relatively little time at their drawing boards. As a result, they lose touch with the substance of their rapidly developing subject. They lose the ability to design; they lose sight of what is essential; and they resign themselves to teach academically challenging puzzles.

Software is getting slower more rapidly than hardware becomes faster.

Program construction consists of a sequence of refinement steps.

C++ is an insult to the human brain

I have never designed a language for its own sake.