“I think you didn't get a reply because you used the terms 'correct' and 'proper', neither of which has much meaning in Perl culture.”

— Larry Wall

[199706251602.JAA01786@wall.org, 1997]
Usenet postings, 1997

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "I think you didn't get a reply because you used the terms 'correct' and 'proper', neither of which has much meaning in …" by Larry Wall?

Larry Wall 294

American computer programmer and author, creator of Perl 1954

Related quotes

“Madness and insanity are two terms that are so vague and relative that you can’t really apportion proper values to them. The only thing I can think of that has any use it functional and dysfunctional. Are you working as well? In which case, it doesn’t matter if you are mad.”

Alan Moore (1953) English writer primarily known for his work in comic books

De Abaitua interview (1998)

“In general, if you think something isn't in Perl, try it out, because it usually is.”

Larry Wall (1954) American computer programmer and author, creator of Perl

[1991Jul31.174523.9447@netlabs.com, 1991]
Usenet postings, 1991

“You know, I know, all of us know that the time factor is the vital consideration — and vital is the correct meaning of the term — of our national defense program”

George Marshall (1880–1959) US military leader, Army Chief of Staff

Speech to the Army ordinance Association (11 October 1939); The Papers of George Catlett Marshall Vol 2 (1986) by the George C. Marshall Foundation http://www.marshallfoundation.org/index.html, Ch. 2 "The Time Factor"
Context: You know, I know, all of us know that the time factor is the vital consideration — and vital is the correct meaning of the term — of our national defense program; that we must never be caught in the same situation we found ourselves in 1917.

“The ultimate laziness is not using Perl. That saves you so much work you wouldn't believe it if you had never tried it.”

Erik Naggum (1965–2009) Norwegian computer programmer

Re: Lisp as glue language? http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.lisp/msg/711dfe3ce115d552 (Usenet article).
Usenet articles, Perl

“As neither of us is Politically Correct, "man" here means man + woman, and "mankind" means humankind.”

Gilles Dauvé (1947) French writer

"Letter on Animal Liberation" (1999)

“Look, Sage. I don't know much about chemistry or computer hacking or photosynthery, but this is something I've got a lot of experience with." I think he mean photosynthesis, but I didn't correct him. "Use my knowledge. Don't let it go to waste.”

Richelle Mead book The Indigo Spell

Source: The Indigo Spell

“The term "free software" has an ambiguity problem: an unintended meaning, "Software you can get for zero price," fits the term just as well as the intended meaning, "software which gives the user certain freedoms."”

Richard Stallman (1953) American software freedom activist, short story writer and computer programmer, founder of the GNU project

We address this problem by publishing a more precise definition of free software, but this is not a perfect solution; it cannot completely eliminate the problem. An unambiguously correct term would be better, if it didn't have other problems.
1990s, Why "Free Software" is better than "Open Source" (1998)