…the technology of computers changes constantly; every year it’s a struggle to keep up with the youngsters fresh out of school. What another of West’s old hands called “a long-term tiredness” can easily creep over computer engineers in their thirties.

— Tracy Kidder, The Soul of a New Machine

Software is a compound word that means “flexible product.” The entire reason that software exists is so that we can quickly and easily change the behavior of our machines. To the extent that we build software that is hard to change, we thwart the very reason that software exists.

— Robert C. Martin, Clean Craftsmanship

The three axes allow each tribe to assert moral superiority. The progressive asserts moral superiority by denouncing oppression and accusing others of failing to do so. The conservative asserts moral superiority by denouncing barbarism and accusing others of failing to do so. The libertarian asserts moral superiority by denouncing coercion and accusing others of failing to do so.

— Arnold Kling, The Three Languages of Politics

…being different is rarely a passport to good design.

— Richard Raffan, The Art of Turned Bowls

Of all types of human being, only the artist takes it upon him to say that he “cannot” work.

— George Orwell, Keep the Aspidistra Flying