Donald Knuth

computer programming art skill

"Computer programming is an art, because it applies accumulated knowledge to the world, because it requires skill and ingenuity, and especially because it produces objects of beauty. A programmer who subconsciously views himself as an artist will enjoy what he does and will do it better."

— Donald Knuth

programming human computer

"Programming is the art of telling another human being what one wants the computer to do."

— Donald Knuth

computer instruction read mind

"Computers are good at following instructions, but not at reading your mind."

— Donald Knuth

theory practice

"If you find that you're spending almost all your time on theory, start turning some attention to practical things; it will improve your theories. If you find that you're spending almost all your time on practice, start turning some attention to theoretical things; it will improve your practice."

— Donald Knuth

program read human computer execute

"Programs are meant to be read by humans and only incidentally for computers to execute."

— Donald Knuth

algorithm see believe

"An algorithm must be seen to be believed."

— Donald Knuth

AI thinking people animal without harder

"AI has by now succeeded in doing essentially everything that requires 'thinking' but has failed to do most of what people and animals do 'without thinking'-that, somehow, is much harder."

— Donald Knuth

email top bottom study concentration

"Email is a wonderful thing for people whose role in life is to be on top of things. But not for me; my role is to be on the bottom of things. What I do takes long hours of studying and uninterruptible concentration."

— Donald Knuth

programmer speed efficiency optimization

"Programmers waste enormous amounts of time thinking about, or worrying about, the speed of noncritical parts of their programs, and these attempts at efficiency actually have a strong negative impact when debugging and maintenance are considered. We should forget about small efficiencies, say about 97% of the time: premature optimization is the root of all evil. Yet we should not pass up our opportunities in that critical 3%."

— Donald Knuth

remember simple better way

"Always remember, however, that there’s usually a simpler and better way to do something than the first way that pops into your head."

— Donald Knuth

premature optimization root evil

"Premature optimization is the root of all evil."

— Donald Knuth