…overabstraction is the number one enemy of meaning and understanding.

— Gerald M. Weinberg, Fiona Charles, Keats Kirsch, Dani Weinberg, and Earl Everett, Weinberg on Writing

While the instruction “Do not criticize” is often cited as the important instruction in brainstorming, this appears to be a counterproductive strategy. Our findings show that debate and criticism do not inhibit ideas but, rather, stimulate them relative to every other condition … There’s this Pollyannaish notion that the most important thing to do when working together is stay positive and get along, to not hurt anyone’s feelings. Well, that’s just wrong. Maybe debate is going to be less pleasant, but it will always be more productive. True creativity requires some trade-offs.

— Jim Whitehurst and Gary Hamel, The Open Organization

Suffering and pain are always obligatory for a broad consciousness and a deep heart. Truly great men, I think, must feel great sorrow in this world

— Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment

The software engineering community has given much attention to its development processes. It has needed to, for I know of few design communities where average practice is so far behind best practice, and where worst practice is so far behind average practice.

— Frederick P. Jr. Brooks, The Design of Design

A wild longing for strong emotions and sensations seethes in me, a rage against this toneless, flat, normal and sterile life.

— Hermann Hesse, Steppenwolf