The problems that I really like to solve are our cultural problems.

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.

We are merely pieces of a grander design, even more insignificant than I imagined. When the earth ceases to be, all those stars will shine on. Our deaths will mean nothing to them.

Reprove your friends in secret praise them openly.

Let your tears roll tonight, but tomorrow you will start the battle again. What defeats us, always, is just our own sorrow.

We must distinguish judging from guessing.

Men and women have roles - their roles are different, but their rights are equal.

No sciences are better attested than the religion of the Bible.

I've done archery for about six weeks, and rock climbing, tree climbing - and combat, running and vaulting. But also yoga and things like that, to stay catlike!

It's hard to find a book that's safe to write. Because one always goes to dark or difficult places.

Procurement policies of all of the major parastatals, it is a very important element of that processes that will continue.

No matter how it looks to us, love never loses control; the laws of our relations are as honest and as exact as the laws of physics.