Part of language design is perturbing the proposed feature in various directions to see how it might generalize in the future.

Younger hackers are hard to classify. They're probably just as diverse as the old hackers are. We're all over the map.

At many levels, Perl is a 'diagonal' language.

Most of you are familiar with the virtues of a programmer. There are three, of course: laziness, impatience, and hubris.

For me, writing is a love-hate relationship.

Portability should be the default.

I think software patents are a bad idea. Many patents are given for trivial inventions.

Symmetry is overrated. Overrated is symmetry.

The Harvard Law states: Under controlled conditions of light, temperature, humidity, and nutrition, the organism will do as it damn well pleases.

Over the long term, symbiosis is more useful than parasitism. More fun, too. Ask any mitochondria.

Hubris itself will not let you be an artist.

Education will teach you ephemeral things. God will teach you wonders.

Sorry about your bad luck.

The key is: never fold.

She's as funny as a toothache

There is always the risk: something is good and good and good and good, then all at once it gets awkward.

My life off the court has changed. I'm feeling good inside, so I guess it shows on the outside too

You missed the shadow of the hawk on the vole if you think how wonderfully free a vole is!

Scandals are like dandelion seeds--they are arrow-headed, and stick where they fall, and bring forth and multiply fourfold.

When people get to speak about themselves and the things that matter to them, on their own terms, we see them as who they are. They can't be reduced to objects of derision.

My experience with Khonsu had taught me not be greedy about time. It was best to appreciate what you had and not yearn for more.