"People understand instinctively that the best way for computer programs to communicate with each other is for each of the them to be strict in what they emit, and liberal in what they accept. The odd thing is that people themselves are not willing to be strict in how they speak, and liberal in how they listen. You'd think that would also be obvious. Instead, we're taught to express ourselves."

Larry Wall Technology See all quotes by Larry Wall →

React to this quote

More by Larry Wall

“I want to see people using Perl to glue things together creatively, not just technically but also socially.”

“echo $package has manual pages available in source form.echo 'However, you don't have nroff, so they're probably useless to you.”

“Perhaps I'm missing the gene for making enemies.”

“We all agree on the necessity of compromise. We just can't agree on when it's necessary to compromise.”

“Anyway, there's plenty of room for doubt. It might seem easy enough, but computer language design is just like a stroll in the park.Jurassic Park, that is.”

“Double *sigh*. _04 is going onto thousands of CDs even as we speak, so to speak.”

Resonant Thoughts

"For decades, Saddam Hussein has tortured, imprisoned, raped and murdered the Iraqi people; invaded neighboring countries without provocation; and threatened the world with weapons of mass destruction.…"

— Jim Mattis

Military1950

#war

"I think it would not work. I would be very jealous. It would be better if it was just sex."

— Hebe Camargo

Music1929–2012

#justice

"Mister Speaker, let us learn a lesson from the dealing of God with the Jewish nation. When his chosen people, led by the pillar of cloud and fire, had crossed the Red Sea and traversed the gloomy wild…"

— James A. Garfield

Politics1831–1881

#justice

"You know, the two great crimes in American history is obviously...the near destruction...of this country’s Native American population, the theft of their land, and on to work that land was brought in …"

— Ta-Nehisi Coates

Literature1975

#knowledge