Complexity control is the central problem of writing software in the real world

Berkeley hackers liked to see themselves as rebels against soulless corporate empires.

The workstation-class machines built by Sun and others opened up new worlds for hackers.

Good programmers know what to write. Great ones know what to rewrite (and reuse)

Smart data structures and dumb code works a lot better than the other way around.

Given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow (e.g., given a large enough beta-tester and co-developer base, almost every problem will be characterized quickly and the fix obvious to someone).

If you have the right attitude, interesting problems will find you.

You cannot motivate the best people with money. Money is just a way to keep score. The best people in any field are motivated by passion.

Prototype, then polish. Get it working before you optimize it

The easiest programs to use are those which demand the least new learning from the user

When I hear the words "social responsibility," I want to reach for my gun.

It doesn’t matter how physically fit or tough you are, if you fail to use natures computer between your ears.

Prayer is the forerunner of mercy.

I admit," I said, "that a second murder in a book often cheers things up." - Hastings

Those who look for seashells will find seashells; those who open them will find pearls.

Right now I feel that I've got my feet on the ground as far as my head is concerned.

Duty is what goes most against the grain, because in doing that we do only what we are strictly obliged to, and are seldom much praised for it.

Boredom makes you do crazy things

It is, ... kind of a softball atmosphere out there.

Now, anybody can make a movie, and I don't see that many great movies, because I think there's only a limited amount of talent out there.

We're not getting involved in terms of sending ground forces into Libya. Let's be clear about that. And indeed the UN Resolution forbids that. It says no foreign occupation of any part of Libya.