“three pillars” of social skills. … Pillar 1: Humility You are not the center of the universe (nor is your code!). You’re neither omniscient nor infallible. You’re open to self-improvement. Pillar 2: Respect You genuinely care about others you work with. You treat them kindly and appreciate their abilities and accomplishments. Pillar 3: Trust You believe others are competent and will do the right thing, and you’re OK with letting them drive when appropriate.

— Titus Winters, Tom Manschreck and Hyrum Wright, Software Engineering at Google

It is interesting to note that the SEI Capability Maturity Model—the ultimate in process definition and focus—has its roots at IBM, where some of its key architects have a history dating back to OS/360.

— Robert L. Glass and Tom DeMarco, Software Creativity 2.0

Various studies, predominantly by Roy Baumeister of Florida State University, show that when the frontal cortex labors hard on some cognitive task, immediately afterward individuals are more aggressive and less empathic, charitable, and honest. Metaphorically, the frontal cortex says, “Screw it. I’m tired and don’t feel like thinking about my fellow human.”

— Robert M. Sapolsky, Behave

The answer is simple. It is because [O-O] has been tied to a variety of complex languages. Instead of teaching people that O-O is a type of design, and giving them design principles, people have taught that O-O is the use of a particular tool. We can write good or bad programs with any tool. Unless we teach people how to design, the languages matter very little. The result is that people do bad designs with these languages and get very little value from them.

— Frederick P. Brooks Jr., The Mythical Man-Month

Research demonstrates that givers sink to the bottom of the success ladder. Across a wide range of important occupations, givers are at a disadvantage: they make others better off but sacrifice their own success in the process.

— Adam M. Grant Ph.D., Give and Take