Lisp obeys the convention that every expression has a value. This convention, together with the old reputation of Lisp as an inefficient language, is the source of the quip by Alan Perlis (paraphrasing Oscar Wilde) that “Lisp programmers know the value of everything but the cost of nothing.”
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I like he quote ‘When there’s a will to fail, obstacles can be found.’ . Applies to so many people.
Definitely. Here are two more: Alan Perlis and Edsger W. Dijkstra.
I like Perlis quote: “A LISP programmer knows the value of everything, but the cost of nothing.”
I think that is a bon mot regarding Oscar Wilde.
Here is the footnote from SICP:
Lisp obeys the convention that every expression has a value. This convention, together with the old reputation of Lisp as an inefficient language, is the source of the quip by Alan Perlis (paraphrasing Oscar Wilde) that “Lisp programmers know the value of everything but the cost of nothing.”
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