Quotes from book
The Art of Computer Programming

Name: The Art of Computer Programming
Author: Donald Ervin Knuth

The Art of Computer Programming is a comprehensive monograph written by computer scientist Donald Knuth that covers many kinds of programming algorithms and their analysis.

Donald Ervin Knuth book The Art of Computer Programming

[...] Without any underlying symmetry properties, the job of proving interesting results becomes extremely unpleasant. The enjoyment of one's tools is an essential ingredient of successful work.
Vol. II, Seminumerical Algorithms, Section 4.2.2 part A, final paragraph [Italics in source]
The Art of Computer Programming (1968–2011)

“Random numbers should not be generated with a method chosen at random”

Donald Ervin Knuth book The Art of Computer Programming

Vol. II, Seminumerical Algorithms
The Art of Computer Programming (1968–2011)

“An algorithm must be seen to be believed.”

Donald Ervin Knuth book The Art of Computer Programming

Vol. I, Fundamental Algorithms, Section 1.1 (1968)
The Art of Computer Programming (1968–2011)
Source: Leaders in Computing: Changing the digital world

“Trees sprout up just about everywhere in computer science…”

Donald Ervin Knuth book The Art of Computer Programming

Vol. IV - A, Combinatorial Algorithms, Section 4.2.1.6 (2011)
The Art of Computer Programming (1968–2011)

“The sun comes up just about as often as it goes down, in the long run, but this doesn't make its motion random.”

Donald Ervin Knuth book The Art of Computer Programming

Vol. II, Seminumerical Algorithms, Section 3.3.2 part B, first paragraph (1969)
The Art of Computer Programming (1968–2011)

“The reason is not to glorify "bit chasing"; a more fundamental issue is at stake here: Numerical subroutines should deliver results that satisfy simple, useful mathematical laws whenever possible. […] Without any underlying symmetry properties, the job of proving interesting results becomes extremely unpleasant. The enjoyment of one's tools is an essential ingredient of successful work.”

Donald Ervin Knuth book The Art of Computer Programming

Vol. II, Seminumerical Algorithms, Section 4.2.2 part A, final paragraph [Italics in source]
The Art of Computer Programming (1968–2011)

“People who are more than casually interested in computers should have at least some idea of what the underlying hardware is like. Otherwise the programs they write will be pretty weird.”

Donald Ervin Knuth book The Art of Computer Programming

Vol. I Fasc. 1, "MMIX, a RISC computer for the new millennium"
The Art of Computer Programming (1968–2011)