Quotes from Fernando J. Corbato

The number of lines of code a programmer can write in a fixed period of time is the same independent of the language used.

Because one has to be an optimist to begin an ambitious project, it is not surprising that underestimation of completion time is the norm.

The general problem with ambitious systems is complexity. [...] it is important to emphasize the value of simplicity and elegance, for complexity has a way of compounding difficulties.